Source: Kawhi Leonard Might Not Stay With Clippers

It's been a given for some time now that Kawhi Leonard, currently recovering from a partially torn ACL, would be opting out and then re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers for a more extensive contract. Now there's some doubt:

“The Mavs will try to do everything they can to get Kawhi Leonard. The Knicks and the Heat will try as well. The situation with Kawhi is no longer a safe assumption he’s staying with the Clippers.” -@TheSteinLine
— John Ledesma (@JohnnyNBA) July 23, 2021

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, it's "no longer a safe assumption that he's staying with the Clippers."

He cites the Dallas Mavericks as a prime candidate to woo Kawhi away from his hometown, along with the Miami Heat and New York Knicks.

One report in April cited an NBA agent stating that Leonard would be "intrigued" by signing with the Heat:

“Kawhi (Leonard) could very well listen to pitches from other teams. That is something that he is considering. If that does end up being the case, he would be intrigued at the possibility of joining the Miami Heat. Joining forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is something that he would absolutely have interest in.”

Leonard has a $36 million dollar player option for this coming season, which he is likely to decline in order to sign a bigger-money long-term deal. However, for any team interested, there is the little matter of the fact that he is likely to sit out the entire 2021-22 regular season while rehabbing his knee.