Raptors’ Masai Ujiri Reveals Pitch to Sign Kawhi Leonard to Contract Extension
Eric Gay/Associated Press
Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri said the organization will attempt to sell small forward Kawhi Leonard on both the city and the team’s championship aspirations after acquiring him in a July trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
Ujiri told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski about the Raptors’ plans on the latest edition of The Woj Pod (via Jack Maloney of CBS Sports), released Friday:
“We are who we are. We are going to be prepared, we are going to make things as smooth…I think you want to be genuine, you want to be real. You know, this is who we are. We might not be the best ones in weather, but we might be the best ones in many other places: the diversity, the city, the uniqueness of a place like [Toronto], fans, the atmosphere. I think those things are so unique, it’s beginning to show everywhere.
“And then you have to put the basketball together. Maybe before the basketball wasn’t a part of it, but I know there’s a part of him that I’m sure thinks this team has a chance. With his teammates and seeing how hard these guys are working. We have to show who we are. There is no fake sales job here—this is what it is.”
Leonard can opt out from the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 NBA season if the sides don’t reach an agreement on an extension.
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
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September 14, 2018 at 11:56AM
