What Leonard trade talk means to the Thunder
The dominoes are starting to fall.
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants a trade away from the fivetime champions, according to Jabari Young of the San Antonio ExpressNews. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Leonard, a Los Angeles native, has L.A. as a preferred trade destination.
Sounds familiar? Paul George’s camp informed Indiana last year that he wouldn’t be returning to the Pacers when his contract was completed. George’s representation reportedly told the Pacers his preferred destination was L.A.
George ended up in Oklahoma City.
Said Wojnarowski via Twitter in regard to Leonard: “(The) Spurs won’t rush.”
Within minutes of the news breaking Friday about Leonard wanting out of San Antonio, the Lakers and Clippers were immediately listed as interested suitors for Leonard, who still has a year remaining on his contract. Leonard, who played only nine games last season for the Spurs due to injury, is also eligible for a supermax contract extension of five years and $219 million.
What’s important to factor into the Leonard situation is that his preferred destination may not be where he ends up this offseason, and that more teams will certainly try to get into the bonanza before the upcoming draft (June 21) and the opening of free agency on July 1.
Boston reportedly tried to trade for Leonard around the trade deadline. The Celtics have the draft assets, young players such as Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum, and established All-Star veterans such as Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to make a significant offer to the Spurs.
Philadelphia has the most draft capital of any team, with six total picks in next week’s draft, including two firstrounders and four picks in the first 39 selections. The Sixers also have young assets in Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz apart from keepers Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
So, it’s not a Los Angeles-or-bust proposition. The Spurs are a patient, thoughtful franchise, which hasn’t won five titles in the last 20 years via knee-jerk reactions. If the Lakers or Clippers (the Clippers own the 12th and 13th overall picks in the draft), who would be the in direct opposition to the Spurs in the Western Conference, can’t offer a better package than another team … be it Boston, Philadelphia, Houston or even the Thunder, San Antonio won’t force a move just because Leonard reportedly prefers to be in Los Angeles.
Yet, Leonard can become a free agent in a year. There’s a risk — as there was with the Thunder trading for George last summer — that Leonard could get to a non-L.A. destination and bolt for the West Coast at first opportunity. But teams, like the Thunder, would be willing to gamble on the chance to convince Leonard to stick around and sign long-term.
The Lakers have the gravitational pull of championship tradition and Magic Johnson in the front office. The young eastern powers have just as many assets to pull off a deal, and are an entire conference away from the Spurs.
George and his representation have given every indication during the season that he enjoyed his time in Oklahoma City. George himself understands that the Oklahoma City experiment wasn’t an expected one-year fix-all. He’s openly talked about “Year 1” of his Thunder tenure, as if there will be another.
But the rumblings of LeBron James coming to Los Angeles, along with Leonard’s demands and the Lakers’ potential to clear the cap space for two max-salary free agents, will make the Lakers an even more enticing draw. If Leonard or James doesn’t end up on the Lakers next season, however, it could significantly impact George’s decision.
Leonard has put the wheel in motion. The NBA world awaits what’s next.