Earn a long-term contract
This is probably the simplest of the three goals for Leonard, but earning another NBA contract that is not just on the veteran’s minimum has to be of utmost importance for Leonard. Heat fans and the Leonard family are happy about Leonard’s being on the team, so this contract could be with the Heat, but it could also be with another team.
Leonard was a “victim” of the salary cap spike in the Summer of 2016, where many regrettable contracts were signed such as Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons and Evan Turner. Leonard re-signed with the Blazers that Summer on a four-year, $41 million deal and while he is getting paid good money, it often means that Leonard is put under the microscope more often than others whether it is deserved or not.
Next year’s free agency class is among the weakest in recent history, if not the absolute weakest. Especially because it precludes the heavy-hitting 2021 free agency class. If Leonard plays in the rotation and continues on the upward trajectory he showed last season, he could become one of the higher-valued frontcourt pieces in free agency once again.
A three-year, $15 million deal could be a realistic market for what he should be trying to attain, but he can always shoot for the stars seeing as many teams will have a lot of cap space to throw around next off-season.