Kawhi Leonard
The pipe dream replacement for Kevin Durant is current Raptor Kawhi Leonard. A better on-ball defender, Leonard is one of the only players that can go toe-for-toe with Durant on both sides of the ball.
There’s little known about Kawhi’s intentions this offseason.
He’s very lowkey about his desires and his interests when it comes to where he wants to play. He could go anywhere, so given that the Bay won’t be able to give him that high-value max while also giving a max to Thompson, the Warriors are likely out of the race.
After carrying the Raptors to the Finals without another All-Star (although Siakam and Lowry have played like it this postseason), Kawhi has the NBA in the palm of his ginormous hands. Kawhi just finished a career-year where he averaged 26.6 points per game.
Now the sole star of the team, Kawhi is leaned on to score throughout the majority of Toronto’s possessions. He’s proven he’s capable of carrying that load and has returned to a respected star throughout the association.
The Warriors would love him, but so would every other team in the NBA.