The most likely scenario, league sources say, remains Leonard opting out to re-sign with the Clippers — or, in Steve Ballmer’s worst nightmare, to shock the league by signing elsewhere. Leonard’s well-known affinity for Southern California has led various rival front offices to presume that he would have no interest in switching teams for the third time, but the notion that Leonard is unattainable seems to be waning a bit as the Aug. 2 start of free agency nears.

Source: Marc Stein/SubStack

ANALYSIS: Stein went on to add, "Dallas, just to name one expected suitor, will not be dissuaded from pursuing Leonard even if he’s forced to miss all of next season, league sources say." He compared Leonard's situation to Kevin Durant in 2019, when the Nets signed him to a lucrative contract with the knowledge Durant would miss the next season.

Leonard recently had surgery on a partial ACL tear. He holds a $36 million player option ahead of August's free agency start.