Throughout a rocky 2017/18 season, even as rumors of discord between Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs persisted, most reports out of San Antonio have suggested that a long-term union between the two sides remains the most likely outcome. Multiple reporters over the course of the season indicated that the Spurs would likely put a Designated Veteran Extension offer on the table for Leonard during the offseason.
However, that’s no longer a lock. In his latest piece for The San Antonio Express-News, Mike Finger observes that a super-max offer still seemed like a slam dunk as of month or two ago, but he admits it’s not a certainty anymore. In fact, Finger writes, it might be a surprise if the Spurs do extend that offer to Leonard.
Given the Spurs’ history of stability, the Leonard situation this season has been fascinating. It stems from a disagreement between the Spurs’ medical staff and Leonard’s own doctors about the state of his quadriceps injury — the Spurs have cleared the star forward to return, but his doctors haven’t done so, and he still doesn’t feel comfortable enough to play.
As part of his rehab, Leonard is currently in New York, away from the Spurs as they battle the Warriors in the first round of the postseason. Finger suggests the team is fine with Leonard’s absence, but the optics aren’t great, and Gregg Popovich‘s comments after Monday’s Game 2 loss were interpreted by some observers as a subtle dig at his absent star — even though they were ostensibly intended as praise for LaMarcus Aldridge.
“LaMarcus has been a monster all year long,” Popovich said, per Sam Amick of USA Today. “He’s led our team at both ends of the floor. He doesn’t complain about a darn thing out on the court. He just plays through everything. I can’t imagine being more proud of a player as far as playing through adversity and being there for his teammates night after night after night. He’s been fantastic.”
It’s worth noting that Aldridge was in a somewhat similar position to Leonard a year ago, having broached the possibility of a trade out of San Antonio during the 2017 offseason. However, a meeting and a few conversations between Aldridge and Popovich allowed the two sides to work out their issues, with the Spurs’ big man ultimately signing an extension before the season got underway.
As Finger writes, there’s still hope that the Spurs and Leonard could follow a similar path. However, at this point, the situation is “too complicated to work out with one phone call.” Finger speculates that it would probably take a series of conversations – with both sides reiterating their commitment to one another – for the Spurs and Leonard to comfortably move forward.
The Spurs are just two losses away from officially starting their offseason, at which point addressing the Leonard situation will become the franchise’s top priority. It’s not clear how this will play out, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Leonard inks an extension in the offseason — at this point, it also wouldn’t be a total shock if he has played his last game at the Spur.
What do you think? Will the Spurs work things out with Leonard like they did with Aldridge before him? Or will the team decide to move on from its best player a year before he becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency? Vote below in our poll and share your thoughts in the comment section!
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They have the Kawhi to 76ers idea floating out there. He has leverage in refusing to sign an extension. PG13 landed Dipo and Sabonis; Boogie landed Hield, Evans, Galloway, 1st and 2nd. So something in between. Sixers have 2 1sts, a salary they can use to match in 9M Bayless, who is a good 3pt shooter albeit not a smart player. There is the makings of a deal. I just wouldn’t deal the entire team away for Kawhi. Need to see him play to get any real return for him.
Not sure of first round picks is enough, I image that Spurs would request Fultz and/or Saric too, maybe even Simmons. Then again, if you believe Spurs doctors, he’s healthy. And I would not concider trading a healthy Kawhi for anyone other than KD or LBJ.
Simmons for Kawhi is a complete non-starter, even tossing it out ends the conversation. We are talking about a player essentially injured since May 2017, and on a 1 year deal bc of his opt out. No one trades superstars for superstars. They superstar for youth and potential, aka a cheaper version. Fultz would be the most likely involved in a trade though, plus like a Bayless bc its 9M expiring and the salaries almost match exactly. Fultz + Saric would require an additional 3-4M contract, the next largest contract is 2.5 for Justin Anderson. So then you’re at 4 players and possible picks, which is absurd for a player not yet fully medically cleared to play.
I guess the sixers wouldn’t get Leonard then. Simmons not in the deal would be a non starter for the Spurs.
You never get back an equal talent in trades with Superstars. Show me a trade that brought back a current playing generational talent versus t a top draft pick. Kings thought they’d get a kings ransom for Boogie. They got Buddy Hield…
The deal that makes sense to me would be Saric, Bayless, and first.
If you want my best player I’m going to ask for your third best player absolute minimum plus a first-round pick. Then another guy for salary.
That way the receiving team Builds on what they have instead of just replaces a star for a star, which no one will do unless there’s trouble on both sides.
The Spurs get a quality starter Plus the first round pick, and a guy. Win win.
That’s why I think Bayless 9M, Fultz 9M, 10th and their own pick gets it done. At 10 you get Miles Bridges who comps to Marcus Morris.
Miles Bridges is excellent except he can’t shoot. Maybe a 15 to 22 range pic. There’s plenty of MKG in the league.
Bridges from Villanova’s another story ….love him.
Realistically, a Sixers trade for Kawhi would probably consist of Covington, Fultz, and 2018 LAL 1st (Unless it ends up Top 5). That’s a deal both sides would likely consider
Do you think the Spurs want RoCo for 4 more years? And the pick can only convert as #2 or #3. It’s basically going to only end up as #1-3 or #10.
Fultz, Covington, Justin Anderson/TLC/Korkmaz, Bayless and a 1st rounder for super max Kawhi makes sense, but i dont remember how long they have to wait to trade a guy after an extension. So if its Kawhis current cap price, you’d have to figure it out differently, and it would likely be something like Fultz, TLC, Korkmaz/Anderson, Bayless, and a 1st rounder
What are the Spurs doing with all of these players? 9M, 10M, 2.5, 1.6, 1.6, 9M = 33.7 vs 19M at the time of the trade wont convert. Also, why would the Sixers do that when their goal is to get LeBron, max 1+1 AND Kawhi. I think the idea would be to extend after getting LBJ.
Sixers owner Harris just got done saying the Sixers were not like other sports franchises, in that they stress longetivity and positivity. The uniqueness of that claim is questionable, but he doesn’t sound like a guy about to trade for Leonard.
Depends on the true medical eval of Leonard. My biggest reservation is Andrew Bynum scenario. You make this trade and give up a lot of value for naught. Its more palatable for me to just sign a guy than trade, most people would agree too. You can always stretch a bad signing. The upside is you’re getting a player who would be extended as part of the trade agreement, and hes a top 5 defender and top 5 player overall, when healthy. When will he be healthy idk.
Like I said, it depends on what salary they have to match. If it’s a max number, that’s where that iteration came from…also, in case it wasn’t obvious, every slash is intended to mean Or, while every comma is supposed to mean And in those trades
Spurs would never do it.
To Timberwolves
Kawhi Leonard and Patty mills and 2nd rounder for
Andrew Wiggins Justin Patton Tyus Jones and OKC first
Pops and Wiggins are perfect for each other. I wish him the best in his move to SA
I’m assuming because you agree with me that Wiggins is not quite what we thought he was going to be.
Wiggins is expensive, trading for a young recent drafted player makes more cap sense.
Wiggins is a player that Pops can turn into a star. Thibs was not the answer for Wiggins
That’s funny. Minnesota trash for one of the best players.
To Bull for (what is now) the 6th pick, 22nd pick and Bobby Portis
If Michael Porter JR is there at 6, that makes sense for the Spurs, but Portis overlaps positionally with Aldridge.. and you have to reup him in 1 year. I think any young player involved in a deal has to have at least 2 years of low cost. I mean thatd be my criteria.
He’s gone.
It’s about the doctors, and being mad at the Spurs. I doubt he’s holding out for a better team.
Leonard to Celts for Brown and Tatum. Win-win.