The mysterious saga that has become the Kawhi Leonard injury situation has now steam-rolled straight into the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs were decimated by the Golden State Warriors in the first game of the playoffs, a national stage showcase of how much of a difference Leonard makes.
In fact, the 26-year old forward was not even with the team for the first round game in Oakland. There certainly appears to be a rift, as reported many months ago, and it is not clear what the resolution is. Teams are preparing to make offers to the Spurs for Leonard and, as Sam Amick of USA Today Sports says, the Los Angeles Clippers are one of them.
Amick says a person with knowledge of the situation mentions that Clippers are planning to prepare a trade package for San Antonio to try and pry Leonard away. Clippers consultant Jerry West has been known to have his eyes set on Leonard, Amick adds. For what its worth, Leonard grew up outside of Los Angeles in Moreno County and went to San Diego State.
The Spurs are in a predicament this offseason. They have the option to give Kawhi Leonard a five-year $219 million extension, a scenario San Antonio planned on going through. However, the injury situation may have frayed the relationship beyond repair.
