Spurs GM: Leonard unhappy with team
General manager R. C. Buford acknowledges star forward Kawhi Leonard is unhappy with the Spurs. He remains optimistic the relationship can be salvaged.
Leonard has requested a trade from San Antonio because he is unhappy after missing most of last season with a right quadriceps injury. Buford would not comment on “speculation” of a trade demand, but agreed there is a fractured relationship between Leonard and the only franchise he has played for.
“Kawhi and his family mean a lot to the organization and to the community and while none of us wish we are where we are, we’re going to do what we can to build the best relationship we can with him,” Buford said Thursday night as the Spurs made two late draft picks in the NBA Draft. “We’ll explore all of our options, but the first one would be to do what we can to keep Kawhi as part of our group.”
Leonard missed the first 27 games of the season but returned to play in nine games. He complained of discomfort and pain in the leg in his final game. Leonard sought an outside opinion after the Spurs cleared him to play, working with his own medical team in New York in an attempt to return to the court. He reportedly grew upset that the Spurs had questioned his rehabilitation process.
“I think all of us would wish that things would have gone differently,” Buford said.
Football: The New England Patriots signed first- round draft pick Isaiah Wynn, an offensive lineman from Georgia.
Wynn, 22, was selected 23rd overall. At 6- foot- 2, 302 pounds, he played both guard and tackle during his college career.
New England lost starting left tackle Nate Solder to the Giants as a free agent, though it’s uncertain where Wynn will play on the line.
His contract, under the rookie wage scale, should be worth about $ 11.4 million over four years, and the Patriots will have a fifth- year option on Wynn.
Tennis: Defending champion Roger Federer defeated Matthew Ebden 7- 6 ( 2), 7- 5 to reach the semifinals of the grass- court Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
Federer was made to work hard by Ebden, who saved five of the eight break points he faced and was leading 5- 3 in the second set.
Federer, who saved two match points against Benoit Paire in the second round the day before, recovered to go up 6- 5 and then broke Ebden to take his first match point for a meeting with American qualifier Denis Kudla.
Top- seeded Marin Cilic eased into the Queen’s Club semifinals when he beat 2010 champion Sam Querrey 7- 6 ( 3), 6- 2.
Barbora Strycova closed in on a third Birmingham ( England) Classic final after Lesia Tsurenko quit with a painful left hip with Strycova leading 7- 5, 3- 0.