Whether or not Kawhi Leonard is able to get back on the court for the Spurs at the end of the regular season or during the playoffs, it has been a tumultuous year for the star forward and his relationship with the franchise. Teams around the NBA have taken note of that apparent discord and plan to look into Leonard’s availability this offseason, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during an appearance on Outside The Lines (video link).
“I have already talked to several NBA general managers,” Windhorst said, per Ryne Nelson of SLAM. “At the end of this season, teams will call the Spurs and inquire about the availability of Kawhi Leonard.”
ESPN’s Zach Lowe echoed Windhorst’s report, tweeting that his colleague’s assertion is “100% true.” Lowe added that the “vultures are circling” in the hopes that the Spurs may consider moving Leonard around the time of the draft in June.
While teams hoping to land Leonard can certainly call the Spurs this summer, that doesn’t mean R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich will seriously consider trading their franchise player. In fact, Windhorst said later in his Outside The Lines appearance that he still believes the most likely scenario involves the Spurs and Leonard coming to an agreement on an extension that keeps him in San Antonio long-term.
Nonetheless, the fact that teams believe they may have a chance to trade for Leonard is a story in itself. Reports of tension between the franchise and the star forward surfaced back in January, and have persisted since then. Spurs doctors have reportedly cleared Leonard to return from the quad injury that has nagged him all season, but Leonard’s own doctors haven’t given him the go-ahead. Popovich has acknowledged that the 26-year-old may not return this season, while the Spurs held a players-only meeting last month to discuss Leonard’s status.
Leonard, who is currently on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2019, will be eligible for a Designated Veteran Extension between July 1 and the start of the 2018/19 season. A deal of that nature would extend Leonard’s contract by five extra years and pay him a starting salary worth 35% of the salary cap. Assuming the Spurs put that offer on the table, it’s hard to imagine him turning it down, but if either side balks, trade rumors surrounding Leonard may intensify.
Horford(for salary matching purposes) Jaylen Brown, and next years kings pick, for Kawhi and spare parts
And then do what for a big man? I’m all for acquiring Leonard, but only at the right price. I don’t believe that would be good for the Cs.
WHAT!!?
Play Leonard at Center. If you get a chance to get him doesn’t matter what you’ve got. You have to do it. Find a scrub in the free agent Market to be your center for 12 minutes a game.
Center ? Lol that’s most unvalued position in the NBA right now.
Exactly!!
Celtics should offer Brown, Terry, Sacramento’s first via Philly, and the first they have from Memphis
They’ve got to match salaries though, which is where it gets a bit trickier.
And what would you do with Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum? The Celts want Anthony Davis. This is Brian Windhorst talking again. Give it time, it’ll pass.
How bout a Hornets-Spurs trade?
Kemba, MKG, Monk, 1st round pick for Kawhi and maybe Danny Green?
That’s actually not bad if they were going to trade him.
Thank you Thomas
I don’t think that’s enough.
Gary My friend! It’s been a while! How ya doing bud?
Everything is great., thanks for asking. How are you?
How about your trade scenario, you think that’s enough to get it done? I think Spurs would want a little more?
I’m good bud thanks!
I think it works for San Antonio because they get an all star PG, a defensive minded player who could thrive under Pop, a young SG with upside and a top 15 draft pick.
That’s awful for the Spurs.
Sixers…Brett Brown connection and the Sixers have the pieces. Robert Covington, sixers 1st, Lakers 1st and throw in a Furkan Korkmaz. Simmons, Kawhi, Saric, Embiid is unstoppable and the 5th starter could be any position besides a C.
Heat should call and tell the spurs to take whoever they want for Kawhi. Maybe a package of a future first, Winslow, Richardson, Dragic and Adebayo for Kawhi.
Adebayo is untouchable ATM. Whiteside is frustrated so take out Dragic and Adebayo and put Whiteside in the deal and maybe TJ instead of Richardson and send over patty mills for contractual reasons
Spurs wouldn’t want whiteside
Dragic, Waiters, McGruder, Adebayo, and I think 2023 is our earliest 1st we can trade lol. Maybe have Kawhi sign the extension before the trade, although I think that he can’t be moved for a few months after doing so….that being said, its just a pipe dream. I don’t see any reason he isn’t still in san antonio moving forward. I’d be pretty shocked honestly
Though I am a big fan of the Spurs and Leonard, I think San Antonio would be well served to listen to offers this offseason.
This current Spurs team is not very good, but it does have some nice young pieces. If dealing Kawhi could bring them 3-4 more, I think it’s worth a quick retool.
Why not to Denver, Spurs send him and Mills there for Murray, Harris, Chandler and this year’s first? Murray and Harris are 21 and 23 respectively, and both are very good already. Denver, who look like they’ll just miss the playoffs this year pairs Leonard with Jokic and Millsap next year, giving the Nuggets one of if not the best frontcourts in the L.
Why not to the Lakers – Kawhi for Ingram, Kuzma, this year’s Cleveland pick, and Lakers 2020 first. Kuz and Ingram both are talented youngsters, and while the picks won’t be top tens, the Spurs have a track record of finding talent in the late 1st round. The net salary result for the Lakers in making this deal is less than $13M, which would still leave them with $50M to spend, and a Superstar already in tow.
To the Sixers – Leonard for Covington, Saric, the Lakers/Sac pick, and Philly’s 1st this year. The Sixers with Kawhi would be scary. Spurs get two quality players, a high first and another low 20’s first. Spurs could either move LMA to Center, or sell high on him after his excellent campaign this year.
Why not keep him. Aldridge almost left last summer until Pop sat down and talked to him. Kawhi should be healthy next season. Sports guys said no way Spurs trade Kawhi until they offer him extension first. If he says no, then they look around. Makes sense.
With the Denver deal, thinking of how it looks in the summer, maybe it would be something like Harris, Lyles, Chandler, Craig, this year’s first, and the 2018 clippers 2nd they own…I don’t think they’d move Murray
Miami Recieves: Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills
Spurs Recieve: 2019 first round pick, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow
I think Whiteside is a FA at the end of the year, but I might be wrong.
Why would the Spurs do that? It’s all junk.
Heat can’t trade that pick, and spurs wouldn’t want whiteside
How about Leonard and Brandon Paul to Detroit for Galloway, Kennard, Bullock, Moreland, and Ellenson
My kind of guy. Might save VanGundy’s job. Not sure after Griffin, Drummond, and Kawhi they could afford anyone else. Trade is funny.
So the Spurs would get a solid bench in that deal?
Exactly, and Kawhi, Monroe, Griffin, and Reggie Jackson would be unstoppable.
Pacers traded Kawhi for George Hill. Maybe they could trade to get him back. I’ll be like Greg offer Lance Stephenson, T.j. Leaf, Darren Collison, Domantis Sabonis, Bojan Bogdanovich and 7 first round picks for him.
Just like the Andrew Luck shoulder surgery, sitting out the season, and people saying he was faking it. First you don’t trade one of the best players in the league if he’s healthy, and second you don’t trade a lot for him if he’s not.
Then if Kawhi really is upset with the Spurs, it sounds like it’s the other way around. Remember Paul George last summer. He tells Pacers 2 days before the draft to say he won’t resign. Then the Pacers waited until the day before free agency to trade him, and it wasn’t to who he wanted to be traded to. Now it looks like he might leave (or OKC can sign him and have a $250 million payroll for a not great team), if he leaves OKC gets the shaft in the Pacer deal.
The Spurs said they wouldn’t listen to offers until they get an answer on an extension. This could turn out to be just like the Paul George deal. Do you give up a lot for a rental? Would the Spurs trade him if they didn’t get the offer they wanted?
He has 1 yr left & is unhappy & is naturally unhappy & now has a weird muscle condition. Spurs should take the best offer for him.
He’s not going to be a “Spur for life”. That’s just something players are told to say to increase their money. Just coolly take offers and pick the best one and move forward with LMA as top dog. Spurs can win without Kawhi, but GMs like him so much, they will pay.