As the free agency period rapidly approaches, the pressure continues to build up for the San Antonio Spurs to ship away disgruntled forward Kawhi Leonard.
The saga has carried over from the regular season to now, where the tension has reached a peak. The 26-year-old Leonard recently let it be known he has no interest in playing for the Spurs next season and despite San Antonio’s best efforts to convince him otherwise, they too are now ready to move on according to NY Times’ Marc Stein:
This doesn't guarantee Kawhi Leonard is going to the Lakers this week — since San Antonio could always trade him elsewhere and/or drag things out — but league sources say of the Spurs: "They're ready" to move on from Kawhi
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 28, 2018
With both sides now seemingly agreeing that they should go their separate ways, a split may be more imminent now than ever. A top-five player when healthy, there will be no shortage of suitors for the services of Kawhi Leonard, even with his player option looming next summer.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, with the Spurs now prepared to deal Leonard, they are engaged in trade talks with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs are fully engaged in trade talks with several teams on Kawhi Leonard, including the Lakers and Celtics, league sources tell ESPN. Boston has long had the assets that the Spurs most covet in a potential Leonard trade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2018
Along with those two expected suitors, the Philadelphia 76ers are also additionally internally discussing putting together a package in pursuit of the former Defensive Player of the Year. Following from Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer.
The Philadelphia 76ers have recognized the Spurs’ and L.A. Lakers’ urgency to complete a deal, sources say. And while the Sixers have not made a formal offer to San Antonio at this time, Philadelphia has held serious internal discussions about acquiring Leonard over the last 48 hours. The front office has presented team ownership with several trade scenarios for discussion, sources say.
Philadelphia’s internal discussions have focused on potential trade packages offering various young players and future draft selections. One team source says preliminary discussions with San Antonio revealed the Spurs have strong interest in a package involving burgeoning forwards Dario Saric and Robert Covington as well as a future first-round pick.
While the 76ers were thought of as a longshot, they also clearly believe they have the requisite package to garner some interest from San Antonio.
Despite brushing off the Lakers during their previous inquiry, it appears the Spurs have come to terms with the fact that they may have to move on without their superstar forward.
However, this doesn’t mean that their asking price for Leonard isn’t still steep. Though they reportedly covet promising Lakers wing, Brandon Ingram, they are seeking a more complete package from the Lakers according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi.
The Lakers are willing to include former No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram and a future first-round pick in a package for Leonard, but the Spurs are seeking a far more complete haul of young Lakers players and future picks, league sources said.
With the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes now in full swing, it remains to be seen what step the Spurs take next. Either way, shipping him off this year for valuable assets from the Lakers, Celtics, or Sixers as opposed to potentially losing him for nothing next summer could prove to be a solid decision.
