NBA
Raptors Hire Kawhi Leonard’s Friend Jeremy Castleberry For Coaching Role
The Toronto Raptors are hiring a longtime friend and former high school/college teammate of Kawhi Leonard, Jeremy Castleberry, sources told ESPN.com’s Ian Begley. Castleberry has worked with Leonard as part of the San Antonio Spurs staff in 2014. The Spurs hired Castleberry as part of their video and player development departments. Hiring Castleberry could increase the chances of Toronto keeping Leonard.
The Spurs traded Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick last month. In the summer of 2019, Leonard can test the free agency market. Raptors’ President of Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri, is very aware of this situation. Ujiri has taken a significant risk with the trade made earlier this summer. The Toronto Raptors are looking to help Leonard see a future in the Raptors uniform beyond this upcoming season. Taking a page out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s book, with how they convinced Paul George to stay after a ‘trial year.’
The Future of Kawhi
Toronto would be able to offer Leonard a five-year, $190 million contract next summer. If Leonard leaves the Raptors, he could sign a four-year, $141 million deal with a team with the available salary-cap space.
It has been well documented that Leonard’s team preference is with the Los Angeles Lakers. But has also stated he wouldn’t mind being a Los Angeles Clipper. So, as of now “the city of angels” is Kawhi’s dream destination to play in 2019.
