NBA free agency is here. News is constantly being circulated as to which teams are in the running for the league’s top free agents. That news includes the highly-touted Kawhi Leonard. It was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Sixers “may very well” get a meeting with the reigning finals MVP. However, this doesn’t change the fact that Kawhi also has the Clippers, Raptors, and Lakers on his radar. Could we see a Kawhi Leonard 76ers marriage in the near future?
It’s been established that the Raptors are NBA Champions and that the Clippers are the NBA’s premier free agent destination. But, Kawhi needs to pay less attention to those teams. Rather, he needs to turn his focus to the Philadelphia 76ers. For a multitude of reasons, Philadelphia is, in fact, the best fit for Kawhi going forward.
Playing Alongside Two Young Stars
When discussing the 76ers, the first two players that come to mind are Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. They’re currently the only notable players signed to the Sixers’ roster. As for Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and JJ Redick, they’re all due to be free agents come 6 PM. This leaves a max contract spot (for now) for Philadelphia to work with. And, although Kawhi has never been about superteams, the Sixers have the tools that will allow him to succeed.
Embiid (25) and Simmons (22) are two of the best young players in the game today. This gives Kawhi a chance to play with established stars who have a ton left in the tank. This isn’t the situation Kawhi finds himself in with the Lakers. LeBron is, of course, the best player in the world, but he’s 34. Kawhi should want to establish a winning dominance for many years to come. LeBron may play at an elite level for a few more seasons, but Embiid and Simmons each have yet to reach their maximum potential.
There’s also 26-year-old Anthony Davis to consider as well. But, if Kawhi is smart, he’s looking at the duo who have yet to reach their prime and have still established themselves as stars in this league. And, if we’re looking deeper into the prospect of Leonard, Simmons, and Embiid joining forces, we must note how they compliment each other very well.
How Kawhi Fits In
Leonard would instantly become a leader on the team that he knocked out of the playoffs himself. Having Kawhi and Embiid together in the frontcourt provides the Sixers with more than just elite defense. Embiid is one of the best defensive big men in the league while Kawhi is arguably the best overall defender. With Simmons and his defensive abilities, the Sixers have one of the best defensive trios in the NBA.
And with defense, comes offense that would flow greatly with these three players as well. Simmons is an active playmaker who can both score and run an offense. Proof of that came this past season when he averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 assists. Embiid saw himself rise to become an MVP candidate. As the best center in the NBA, he averaged 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds. By themselves, you have a duo that should be feared going forward. Now, add Kawhi Leonard to that, and it gives the Sixers an unstoppable trio.
What about the Lakers, Clippers, and Raptors. It was alluded to before how LeBron doesn’t have many years left in the tank. Compared to the Sixers, Simmons and Embiid (and Leonard) have the winning pedigree to carry the Sixers to many potential NBA Finals. That leaves the Clippers, who have no potential star to pair with Leonard on the roster (right now), and the Raptors who may be on the downtrend even after winning the NBA Championship.
Toronto Won’t Be The Same
The Raptors are the defending NBA Champions. But, when you look at this roster on paper, it draws questions as to whether they can have continued success. You can first point to their own free agency and the players they must bring back. Marc Gasol recently accepted his one-year player option, tying him to the Raptors for one more season. In addition, the Raptors now have to worry about the free agency of Danny Green who was a pivotal part in Toronto’s success. He was the Raptors’ resident sharpshooter who also showed he can hold his own on defense at times.
Now, assuming the Raptors re-sign all the previously mentioned players, it’ll then be up to Kawhi to see if he wants to run it back with the same roster or take his talents elsewhere. But, if it does come to that scenario, the Raptors aren’t the team to choose. It’s not because of talent but because time is running out for multiple players on that team. Look at the respective ages of each Raptors player. There’s no doubt that there’s concern surrounding the longevity of this team.
Age Problems
| Name | Age |
| Marc Gasol | 34 |
| Kyle Lowry | 33 |
| Danny Green | 32 |
| Jodie Meeks | 31 |
| Jeremy Lin | 30 |
| Serge Ibaka | 29 |
| Eric Moreland | 27 |
| Norman Powell | 26 |
| Malcolm Miller | 26 |
| Chris Boucher | 26 |
| Fred VanVleet | 25 |
| Pascal Siakam | 25 |
| Jordan Loyd | 25 |
| Patrick McCaw | 23 |
| Dewan Hernandez | 22 |
| OG Anunoby | 21 |
As every team should, the Raptors have a mix of young players and experienced veterans. However, looking at the top of that list, all that stands out are the Raptors’ key players. Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, and Danny Green were all starters and key components to winning the championship. At their ages, they clearly won’t be the same players they once were, and that definitely showed this season. Kawhi shouldn’t want to go back to Toronto simply because the future isn’t bright for them.
On the other hand, for Philadelphia, they were in a winning situation this year and will be in a winning situation for years to come. Their top players are 25 and 22. Kawhi won’t only get the money he wants but will basically be put in a position to win years.
How Realistic is This Move?
Out of all the teams Kawhi Leonard is considering, the Sixers have the worst chances of signing him. Philadelphia isn’t one of the bigger market teams on Kawhi’s radar, but if he wants to win more championships, he should sign with them. With reports of Kawhi talking with Kevin Durant about teaming up, it makes this more all the less likely. Kawhi needs to consider the 76ers because he should want to win. Forget the big markets, bright lights, and all the hype. A Kawhi-Simmons-Embiid trio would rise to be the best in the NBA.
Even though playing with Kevin Durant (who might not even come back from injury the same), LeBron James, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, or Kyrie Irving may be intriguing, the Sixers are the right fit for Kawhi. He’ll rise as the leader and first option on a championship-level team once again. And, if none of Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, or JJ Redick re-sign, that leaves Philadelphia $54.7 million in cap space. Kawhi Leonard’s career and future will be in the best shape if he signs with the Sixers.