This Forbes article says that because of all the U.S. state & federal tax laws, plus Canada tax laws, that Kawhi would make about $11.5 million more living & working in Los Angeles over the next 4 years because of how taxes work, versus working in Canada while maintaining a home in Southern California.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/seanpackard/2019/07/02/11-4-million-reasons-kawhi-leonard-will-not-sign-with-toronto/#1486174d1d8d
That is the pro-team located in his hometown, its a big market/major brand team, he'll make more money, and it is a team with both LeBron James and (even more importantly) Anthony Davis on it - who is he roughly the same age as and whom he can continue pair with to share the superstar load for several years down the road even has LeBron ages out. The Clippers? Sure, they are in Los Angeles too...but they don't have anybody close to a LeBron and Anthony Davis on their rosters.
And all the above reasons are presumably part of why more and more the signs are Kawhi is going to the Lakers. I know the fanbases for all the other teams not named Los Angeles Lakers are going to complain about yet another 'super team' immediately popping up carrying on the tradition of the LeBron-Wade-Bosh Heat and the Warriors.
But if you look at this from Kawhi's perspective, the Lakers just makes too much damn sense. And after winning NBA titles for both the Spurs and then Raptors being a 'Super Team Destroyer', he really has nothing to prove. He's shown now twice he can be the Finals MVP beating super teams in an NBA Finals. Now looks like he may very well cross the aisle and play on a super-team himself.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/seanpackard/2019/07/02/11-4-million-reasons-kawhi-leonard-will-not-sign-with-toronto/#1486174d1d8d
If Kawhi has always wanted to live in Los Angeles/Southern California (where he was born, grew up, and played college ball) AND the overall tax situation means he'd keep more of his money simply both working and living in L.A.....then IMO end of story. The most logical smart thing to do is go to Lakers barring some incredible level of disfunction/chaos from an organizational/ownership standpoint. Makes total sense.Quote:
If he signs with the Lakers, Leonard will only pay US and California taxes, along with jock taxes for which he will receive credits on his California return. On an average annual salary of $35,152,500, he will pay the US and California roughly $17,681,000, netting $17,471,500 after taxes. He would net $69,886,000 over the four years.
During the first four years after signing his max contract, Leonard will pocket an extra $11,414,000 by signing with the Lakers than he would signing with the Raptors.
That is the pro-team located in his hometown, its a big market/major brand team, he'll make more money, and it is a team with both LeBron James and (even more importantly) Anthony Davis on it - who is he roughly the same age as and whom he can continue pair with to share the superstar load for several years down the road even has LeBron ages out. The Clippers? Sure, they are in Los Angeles too...but they don't have anybody close to a LeBron and Anthony Davis on their rosters.
And all the above reasons are presumably part of why more and more the signs are Kawhi is going to the Lakers. I know the fanbases for all the other teams not named Los Angeles Lakers are going to complain about yet another 'super team' immediately popping up carrying on the tradition of the LeBron-Wade-Bosh Heat and the Warriors.
But if you look at this from Kawhi's perspective, the Lakers just makes too much damn sense. And after winning NBA titles for both the Spurs and then Raptors being a 'Super Team Destroyer', he really has nothing to prove. He's shown now twice he can be the Finals MVP beating super teams in an NBA Finals. Now looks like he may very well cross the aisle and play on a super-team himself.
