Following up on a series of Kawhi Leonard rumors that surfaced after they reported on trade talks between the Clippers and Raptors earlier in the day on Sunday, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) suggest that Dallas isn’t considered a viable landing spot for Leonard at this point, even though the Mavericks have expressed some level of interest in the star forward.
Toronto seems to be the team being linked to Leonard most frequently, in part because of his reported willingness to sign an extension with the Raptors. And while Clutch Points reported that the Clippers were lukewarm about the package the Raptors were prepared to offer, Stein and Fischer hear that forward Brandon Ingram may hold some appeal to L.A., since the team wants to remain competitive in the West even while potentially getting younger. Ingram was an All-Star last season.
Checking in on other Clippers-related fronts, Stein and Fischer say the possibility of operating as a cap-space team remains in play for L.A. and that the club also hasn’t ruled out re-signing big man John Collins, who will be an unrestricted free agent.
Interestingly, while the Clippers apparently registered some trade interest in Magic big man Goga Bitadze, The Stein Line duo reports that Orlando is expected to hang onto Bitadze because the team is bracing for the possibility of losing its other reserve center, Moritz Wagner. Wagner, the brother of Magic star Franz Wagner, is expected to command a portion of the mid-level exception from another team in free agency, Stein and Fischer explain.
Here are more highlights from the latest Stein Line missive:
- Stein and Fischer, who initially linked Marcus Smart to Houston on Friday night, say the Rockets‘ interest in the former Defensive Player of the Year is “only sounding more serious” 48 hours later. Dan Woike of The Athletic is also hearing plenty of chatter about Houston making a run at Smart, with Stein and Fischer suggesting the Rockets are preparing to put a three-year offer on the table on Tuesday after the Lakers guard declines his $5.4MM player option on Monday.
- While the Nets and Lakers are known to have interest in Mitchell Robinson, the Kings would also like to make a run at the free agent center if they can create the cap flexibility needed to make a competitive offer, Stein and Fischer write. Sacramento currently projects to be above the first tax apron, so some work would be necessary to make that happen.
- In addition to the Knicks, the Celtics are also expected to be a suitor for veteran center Kevon Looney, per The Stein Line’s duo. A potential reunion with Robert Williams is another option on Boston’s radar as the team seeks additional frontcourt depth, Stein and Fischer add.
- After having reported earlier in the day that the Nuggets would like to add former head coach to David Adelman‘s coaching staff, Stein and Fischer say Dave Joerger – who has also drawn interest from Paris Basketball overseas – has interviewed for that lead assistant position in Denver.
