Kawhi Leonard Declines Contract Option; ‘Seriously Considering’ RaptorsA

In a widely expected move, Kawhi Leonard will decline his 2019-20 player option with the Toronto Raptors to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

However, Haynes noted that Leonard is “believed to be seriously considering re-signing with the Raptors.”nfl cheap nike jerseys

Leonard would have earned roughly $21.3 million in 2019-20 had he exercised the option. But even if he intends to return to the Raptors, opting out was a no-brainer for the three-time All-Star.

The Raptors can offer him a five-year, $189.7 million max extension, while other teams can’t give him more than a four-year, $140.6 million contract

Either way, the 27-year-old had no reason to see out the remainder of his old contract.hi-res-20f7d0da0390e8aea1bb3f2dfec4e354_crop_north

Now the question becomes whether he stays in Toronto or bolts after one season north of the border.new nike nfl jerseys for sale cheap

Leonard and the Raptors didn’t get off to a great start after they acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs. Last July, Sporting News’ Sean Deveney reported Leonard had “no interest” in playing for his new team.

Over time, the relationship between the two sides grew stronger. In March, TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported Toronto was “increasingly confident” about its chances to retain Leonard this summer:

“However, as they’ve gotten to know Leonard better, they have come to understand the other priorities that drive him on daily basis. That’s what their pitch will centre on: trust, familiarity, cheap wholesale nike nfl jerseys a commitment to maintaining his health and the shared goal of chasing a championship, as well as the extra year and contract worth nearly $50 million more than anyone else can offer.”

Then came the first NBA championship in Raptors history, an achievement that wouldn’t have been possible without Leonard. He averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists throughout the playoffs, building a case for himself as the NBA’s best player.cheap nfl nike jerseys free shipping

On the court, the Raptors built their offense around Leonard. According to Basketball Reference, his 30.3 percent usage rate was the highest on the team, and he attempted the most shots (1,129) of any Raptor despite missing 22 regular-season games.cheap nike jerseys nfl

Leonard sat out so frequently because Toronto wanted to proactively manage his workload following an injury-plagued 2017-18 season. With an eye toward winning his trust and preserving him for the playoffs, the coaching staff was careful not to push him too hard during the regular season.
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General manager Masai Ujiri took a big risk sending a fan favorite in DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for a player who might only be a one-year rental. Because of that, the Raptors had to go above and beyond to make Leonard feel comfortable.

Leonard acknowledged the plan ultimately ensured he continued to be effective into the postseason.cheap new nike nfl jerseys

Nick Nurse: Raptors to Visit Justin Trudeau After Title, Unsure on Donald Trump

The Toronto Raptors will continue their NBA championship celebration with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but it’s unclear if a visit with U.S. President Donald Trump is in the cards.cheap nfl youth jerseys

In an appearance on SportsNet 590 on Wednesday, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said they are already working on scheduling a visit with Trudeau.cheap youth nfl jerseys

“Definitely the Trudeau meeting, because they’ve been asking me about scheduling it,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing about the White House. We’re Canada’s team anyway, right?”hi-res-fba28a672ab46221a5ef99a12230b8e3_crop_north

The Raptors are the first team from Canada to win a championship in one of North America’s four major professional sports since the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series and the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1993.youth nfl jerseys cheap
Nurse emphasized his desire to celebrate the Raptors’ title in their home country: “Let’s go see Trudeau up in Ottawa. … We’re Canada’s team.”nfl youth jerseys

In lieu of visiting Trump at the White House the previous two years, members of the Golden State Warriors spent a day with children at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., in February 2018 and met with former President Barack Obama in January.youth nfl jerseys

An NBA champion hasn’t visited the White House since the Cleveland Cavaliers met with Obama in November 2016.nfl youth jerseys cheap

The Raptors won their first title by defeating the Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals.

Offseason Trade Ideas That Would Trigger NBA Fanbases

Let’s get hypothetically bent out of shape.

The NBA offseason is, in sum, a mess of the unpredictable. Every year, without fail, big-time moves go down no one foresaw.
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Certain developments aren’t slap-you-in-the-face surprising or universally controversial, even when they’re considered long shots. Gordon Hayward didn’t catch anyone completely off guard by choosing the Boston Celtics over the Utah Jazz. Ditto for Paul Millsap when he took his mixed bag of tricks to the Denver Nuggets cheap youth nfl jerseysaae46e188fe15ed5aa0b6c9aca671153_crop_exact.

Blockbuster trades are a different beast. Some aren’t total shockers—Paul George being dealt from the Indiana Pacers, for instance. Others are truly disarming. nfl youth jerseys cheap

Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets. Kyrie Irving to the Celtics. These deals were stunning. They came, for the most part, out of nowhere. They incited feelz. They obliterated pre-existing notions. They incensed fans.

Now, more than a half-year later, they will be the baseline for our make-believe blockbusters.youth nfl jerseys cheap

All of these deals are deliberately ambitious. They’re aimed at drawing the ire of everyone involved. That doesn’t mean they’re terrible. There will be a clear path for each of the primary subjects to reach the trade block. That route to relocation is neither inevitable nor being endorsed here. But it exists.youth nfl jerseys

Every pretend idea will be accompanied by hard-feelings slants from each side, with a few additional bonus offshoots sprinkled in for good measure. Just so we’re clear: This isn’t a class in “Why Team X would say no.”

It’s more like a “Why Fanbase Y would be riled up in the aftermath of this trade.”nfl youth jerseys

Atlanta Falcons: Bypassing a Pass-Catcher

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the league’s top wide receivers in Julio Jones. They also have one of the NFL’s best No. 2 receivers in Mohamed Sanu. Wide receiver doesn’t stand out as a need, but it’s a position the Falcons cannot afford to ignore.nfl youth jerseys cheap

Taylor Gabriel was Atlanta’s No. 3 receiver over the last two seasons, but he joined the Chicago Bears this offseason. This leaves the Falcons without a high-end receiver to fill the role.

Justin Hardy would likely be Atlanta’s No. 3 receiver. He’s shown promise, but he’s also never caught more than 21 passes in a season. He had 20 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns last season.
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The Falcons don’t have to use their first-round pick (26th overall) on a wide receiver, though if they want one of youth nfl jerseys the draft’s top pass-catchers—like Alabama’s Calvin Ridley or SMU’s Courtland Sutton—they may have to.

Atlanta has bigger needs. It could use help on the interior defensive line and at safety. Adding a premier guard prospect would also be a smart move. If the Falcons want to regain the offensive explosiveness they enjoyed under Kyle Shanahan, however, adding a quality replacement for Gabriel would be wise.

Adding a pass-catcher needs to be a priority for the Baltimore Ravens. Four o youth nfl jerseys cheap f Baltimore’s top five receivers from last season—Ben Watson, Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin and Danny Woodhead—are gone. While the Ravens added Michael Crabtree and John Brown this offseason, the team’s receiving corps won’t keep defensive coordinators up at night.

Unfortunately, this draft class isn’t heavy on top-end receiving talent.cheap nfl youth jerseys

“This class has a few specialists, from slot receivers to big red zone threats, so it’s a draft to find No. 2 receivers or role players more than it is a draft to find a game-changing No. 1 option,” Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo recently wrote.

Baltimore shouldn’t shrug its shoulders and ignore the receiver position, nfl replica jerseys cheap though. Adding a high-end slot receiver could strengthen its rebuilding passing attack.

Adding a quality pass-catching tight end like Penn State’s Mike Gesicki could also help the Ravens. Tight ends Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams combined for just 289 receiving yards last season.