With the 2018 NBA Draft concluded and the free agency period now just around the corner, the Kawhi Leonard saga in San Antonio has yet to reach a conclusion.
The friction between both sides has been there for what appears to be the better part of the past year and it peaked when Leonard reportedly asked for a trade from the Spurs. As an LA-native, Leonard unsurprisingly made it clear he hopes to play in the City of Angels, specifically for the Lakers. According to Yahoo’s Shams Charania, the Lakers reached out to the Spurs, expressing their interest in trading for the All-Star forward:
The Los Angeles Lakers have reached out to the San Antonio Spurs to express interest in All-Star Kawhi Leonard, league sources tell Yahoo. No proposals have been discussed.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2018
The Lakers have some young pieces that could be used as valuable trade chips such as Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and perhaps even Josh Hart. However, with teams across the league clamoring for a player with the abilities of a Kawhi Leonard, the Lakers are far from the team that can provide the Spurs with the best package in return.
Perhaps this is why the conversation between the Lakers and Spurs regarding Leonard was relatively short according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
Within the last week the Lakers contacted the Spurs to discuss a Kawhi Leonard trade. As one source put it, “they basically shut the door on us.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 21, 2018
No players were ever discussed. The conversation never got that far. And it hasn’t continued
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 21, 2018
The Spurs obviously weren’t interested in dealing Leonard to the Lakers, but this could very well be the case with every team that’s inquired about his availability. The dissatisfied superstar is still under contract with San Antonio for two more years but has a player option next summer.
However, it could still be in the Spurs’ best interest to ponder dealing their centerpiece, to the Lakers or another team loaded with assets such as the Boston Celtics. A player option would allow Leonard to leave for virtually nothing next offseason and his preferred destination is obviously the Lakers.
Still, if head coach Gregg Popovich thinks Leonard’s future still lies in San Antonio, this could explain their reluctance to even hear out potential offers. Regardless, the Kawhi Leonard situation will be one of the marquee storylines to monitor this offseason.
