But the NBA Finals MVP of the Toronto Raptors has a reputation for being a little "crazy,'' right?
Leonard, arguably the biggest prize on the free agent market this summer, recently declined his team option with the Raptors, making himself available. Conventional wisdom has it that Leonard will re-up with Toronto, with the Los Angeles Clippers a top candidate as well. A report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski last week indicated that Leonard will take meetings with the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets. The Los Angeles Lakers also consider themselves contenders for the superstar forward's services.
So where do the Dallas Mavericks come in?
But the Mavs are coming short of telling me "no'' on the concept. Which means at the very least it fits owner Mark Cuban's organizational commitment to "run out every groundball.'' As I write this, Sheridan's report is more "premature'' than it is "wrong,'' and it'll stay that way until either the Mavs or Leonard say otherwise.
Dallas, of course, has the $30 million plus in cap room to be a major bidder for most anybody come 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30, when the NBA free agency shopping window opens up. We have talked a great deal of "PLAN K'' and all the prominent names on that list, Kawhi included.
That same "run out ground balls'' logic was never going to get in the way of at least visiting with the likes of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, despite the unlikihood of them becoming Mavs. So why should it get in the way of a due-diligence audience with arguably the best healthy player on the market?