NBA speculation: Request for Paul George trade from Kawhi Leonard's uncle, questionable contract negotiations, Toronto Maple Leafs-related news
The Toronto Raptors, once crowned NBA champions in 2019, have faced a challenging period since the departure of Kawhi Leonard. Since his exit, the team has not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs.
The upcoming NBA season doesn't look promising for the Raptors, who have not been tipped as a competitive force. The team's current roster, one of the most expensive in the league, is a cause for concern.
Leonard's decision to leave the Raptors, less than a month after their championship win, was controversial. Reports suggest that many factors, beyond basketball and standard contract negotiations, played a role in his departure.
One such factor was a no-show sponsorship deal. According to Libaan Osman of the Toronto Star, Leonard was seeking a "$10 million a year no-show sponsorship deal" to stay with the Raptors. Bruce Arthur of the same publication reported that Leonard's uncle made this request.
The Raptors, however, were unwilling to provide such a deal. This, coupled with the allegations of a no-show deal sought by Leonard and his uncle for quite some time, led to his departure for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Interestingly, the company allegedly involved in a $10 million annual non-transactional sponsorship contract with Kawhi Leonard in 2019 is a start-up invested in by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. The firm eventually went bankrupt, paying Leonard $7 million annually over four years.
Leonard's injury troubles have been a constant during his stay with the Los Angeles Clippers. It's possible that if he had stayed with the Raptors, his injury troubles might have affected their performance as well.
The Raptors made it to the second round of the playoffs the year after Leonard left, but they have yet to reach that stage since his departure. The team's focus on ethical considerations may have contributed to their lack of basketball success since Kawhi Leonard's departure.
As the Raptors prepare for the upcoming season, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the team can regain its former glory.
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