“Kawhi Leonard to join forces with Luka Doncic and co?”: Dallas might be the ideal destination for the Clippers superstar if he exercises his player option this off-season

Recently Marc Stein stated that the Dallas Mavericks would do everything required to acquire Kawhi Leonard this 0ff-season.

Kawhi had a very successful 2021 post-season until he suffered a partially torn ACL during Game Four of the eastern conference semi-finals.

The 2x Finals MVP averaged 30.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.1 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on a 57.3% shooting from the field and 39.3% from the 3-point line.

Kawhi signed a 3 year $103M contract with the LA Clippers during the 2019-20 off-season. The 2x NBA champion has a player option in 2021.

The superstar’s first 2 seasons with the Clippers were somewhat bitter-sweet. The team had one of the biggest upsets in recent times during the 2020 Orlando Bubble. The Clippers blew a 3-1 lead and were eliminated in the semi-finals.

The 2020-21 season was a relatively successful year for the Clippers. The team came back twice from an 0-2 deficit in the playoffs. The Clippers clinched a berth in the WCF for the first time in franchise history.

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Though many reports suggest that the former 2x DPOY would continue to stay with the Clippers, Kawhi’s unpredictable nature has always been a cause of concern.

Where could Kawhi Leonard head to?

If Kawhi decides to leave the Clippers, he has a plethora of options to choose from. As per rumors, the Mavericks are very keen on having Kawhi join forces with their superstar Luka Doncic.

The Mavs have no option but Luka when it comes to their offense. Thus Kawhi would be an ideal opportunity for the team that would make them championship contenders straight away.

The Clippers superstar also shares a great relationship with Nico Harrison, the Mavs’ new general manager. Kawhi could really add depth to the team’s defense as well. The superstar is a 2x DPOY and 3x All-NBA First Defensive team.

The Mark Cuban team has enough cap space to accommodate the superstar and could trade some assets as well for him.

The New York Knicks and the Miami Heat are some of the other teams interested in acquiring the 5x All-Star. While the Knicks outdid everyone’s expectations this year, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Heat star Jimmy Butler and Kawhi share a great bond.

Also read: “Deandre Ayton will surpass Kevin Durant and make the most efficient individual playoff run in NBA history”: Suns center’s scoring is more efficient than Kawhi Leonard and the Nets superstar’s best playoff runs

With the off-season kicking off, the mystery around Kawhi’s future will get more engaging as days go by.