According to ESPN, Spurs F Kawhi Leonard would like to be traded. His preferred destination is Los Angeles with the Lakers, according to the report.
Leonard, 26, who missed 72 games with a quad injury, has grown frustrated with how the organization handled his quad injury and feels the franchise turned on him once he sought a second opinion, according to the report.
Now, the Spurs have a decision to make. Do they try to work things out with Leonard the way they did with LaMarcus Aldridge or do they find the best possible trade scenario?
ESPN NBA analyst Mark Jackson believes that the Spurs should do what is best for their organization.
“You can’t believe everything you read. We’ll find out how it plays out,” Jackson told TMZ Sports. “It doesn’t matter where he wants to go. It will be up to the Spurs; whether they keep him or get the best, most attractive deal for them. I’m not going to send him somewhere and get junk in return. He’s a valuable asset.”
Leonard has two years left on his contract but can opt out after next season, and the Spurs can offer him a super-max contract at five-years, $219 million this summer.
However, no matter what the Spurs decide to do, Jackson believes San Antonio should listen to all offers for Leonard.
“I’ve been in this business a long time. You always listen,” Jackson said “If I’m the Spurs, I want to keep him, but I’m going to continue to keep the phones locked and loaded and listen to offers. Something that attracts me, I’ll move accordingly. If not, worse case scenario, I’ll still have one of the top players in the world.”
The two-time All-Star will be a valuable asset wherever he goes, but I can’t see Gregg Popovich sending him to a team in the Western Conference. Therefore, if he traded, I would expect Leonard to go somewhere in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics and the 76ers have a lot of assets they can throw at San Antonio. Boston reportedly reached out to the Spurs during the regular season but was rejected by San Antonio.
The next few weeks are going to be a lot of fun in the NBA.