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Four teams that could steal Kawhi Leonard from the Toronto Raptors

By William Ricks

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem on December 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem on December 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are the team that has been under the radar when it comes to the Kawhi sweepstakes.  If you take a closer look, however, they could be in a great position to snag Leonard.

Brooklyn has the fourth most cap space coming into the offseason, with a projected $54.6 million in cap space at their disposal. That is more than enough to sign the Klaw, but that’s not the only reason the Nets are a threat to sign Kawhi Leonard.

With the Nets making the playoffs this season, they are one of the teams on the rise in the Eastern Conference. If there is one thing they lack, however, it is an established star caliber player. Kawhi would be the exact player Brooklyn is looking for.

The Nets also have a good group of young players. D’Angelo Russell just finished off a career year across the board. Jarrett Allen is showing he can be a dependable center, and Spencer Dinwiddie is looking like one of the best value contracts in the league.

The youth movement in Brooklyn would be a good fit for Kawhi. He will be the go-to guy if he signs, but he knows he can put his trust in Russell or Dinwiddie if they have the right matchup. His veteran status would also be something the team would love to have in the locker room.

Kawhi’s possible contract with the team won’t take up all of their cap space, giving them the opportunity to sign other players who fit his style of play. The Nets gained even more flexibility financially, as they traded away Allen Crabbe and his $18.5 million contract. This kind of cap flexibility makes Brooklyn a more appealing option.

Brooklyn could give themselves more flexibility if they renounce Russell’s contract. That would give Kawhi the option of possibly choosing his partner when if he chooses to sign with them.

The Nets seem like they have on superstar free-agent on the hook, as there have been reports that Kyrie Irving is “prepared” to sign with Brooklyn in the offseason. With Irving possibly coming to Brooklyn, Kawhi could be in a great situation if he chooses to sign with the Nets. He alongside that young core and Irving could be a team that jumps into title contention. Yes, this is speculation to some degree, but that team would be very interesting to watch.

What might make Brooklyn the ideal spot for Kawhi is the market they’re in. He would be in New York, but he won’t have all the media attention compared to if he signed with the Net’s in-state rival New York Knicks. Kawhi is known to be a lowkey guy, and it would be the best of both worlds if he could play in a big city, without the media in his face 24/7, 365 days.

Kawhi landing in Brooklyn is a real possibility, as the mixture of cap space and young talent make Brooklyn a darkhorse for stealing Kawhi from the Raptors.

Imagine Kawhi, Russell, and Allen on the same court. That could be an impressive young core for the Nets, giving their fans even more to look forward to for the upcoming season.