Rumors of friction between the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard developed over the star’s inability to play with his nagging quad injury, but Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders hears that most of the rift is a result of a lack of communication.
Kyler adds that while the relationship is far from unrepairable, the two sides will need to talk things out once the season is over. The scribe hears that the team isn’t going to make the 2016/17 MVP candidate available in trades.
The Spurs have been “fairly open” with Leonard’s representatives about their willingness to let the situation take its course, though the front office would obviously prefer Leonard to return and get re-acclimated with the team. San Antonio’s medical staff had put the small forward on a program earlier in the season and the doctors cleared him to play at one point. However, Leonard remained in pain and sought additional opinions, which irked the franchise.
Leonard remains in pain today, but he wants nothing more than to put this whole situation behind him and return to the floor. San Antonio entered the night with a record of 36-26, good for fifth in the Western Conference. The team appears to be in decent position to make the postseason, though a deep run will undoubtedly depend on the availability of Leonard and recently injured LaMarcus Aldridge.
The small forward will be a free agent during the summer of 2019, but this offseason, he’ll be eligible for the Designated Veteran Player Exception, a vehicle that could net him in the neighborhood of $250MM.
Sources tell Kyler that Leonard’s situation rivals Aldridge’s situation this past offseason, when a sitdown between coach Gregg Popovich and the power forward was needed to hash out some differences. The open communication led to an extension for Aldridge and the sense around the league is that this will be the second offseason in a row where the Spurs sit down to meet with one of their top players and come away signing him to a long-term pact.
Could always trade him to Philly this offseason if relationship doesn’t come together.
Fultz, Šarić, and Lakers 1st for Kawhi and Mills or Green should do it
Not nearly enough. Fultz is a bum and lakers pick doesnt look to be very good. Simmons would be a good start, plus robert covington and lakers pick might be enough.
I’m a Mavs fan with no connection to Fultz and he is no bum. The dude will be a star
Fultz is a bust.
For trade value, Fultz is a bust until he isn’t, especially for a no-nonsense type like Popovich.
Leonard is not a personality match for Philly anyway, unless they want a compliment to their process tweeters.
No way I trade Simmons for Kawhi if I’m the sixers. Have you seen his rookie season? He is going to be a superstar. I wouldn’t trade him for someone with a year and a half on their contract.
Obviously hopefully he gets healthy and it’s all resolved though
giving Fultz is useless spurs have murray there future PG
giving saric is uselss too they have aldrigde
Kawhi Leonard knows if he is hurt. It’s like being a war veteran and the psychiatrist says you are bipolar, but you know that is not the case. It’s trauma induced. So, the doctor is not the voice one needs to hear. It’s your voice. Kawhi’s voice in this matter. If they run him off it will be the Spurs greed to blame.
It’s going to be great to read Popovich’s book in 20 years and hear the inside scoop on what really is going on here.