Kawhi Leonard Rumors: Injury, Not Contract, Could Be Keeping Spurs' Star From Getting Traded

It’s been almost a month since it was reported that Kawhi Leonard no longer wanted to be with the San Antonio Spurs, yet the forward hasn’t gone anywhere. The team is willing to trade their best player for an offer they find acceptable, but it doesn’t appear that they’ve come close to making a deal.

Leonard’s contract situation has played a role in no team blowing San Antonio away with their best offer. It’s no secret that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year wants to play in Los Angeles. Any team that acquires Leonard would risk losing him to either the Lakers or Clippers when he’s eligible to become a free agent next summer.

Several teams would be willing to take that risk for a player that’s been a top-three MVP candidate in each of his last two full seasons. Nearly half a dozen NBA general managers told Bleacher Report at the Las Vegas Summer League that they would acquire Leonard without a commitment that he will re-sign in the 2019 offseason.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to re-sign Paul George this offseason after trading for him a year ago. The All-Star was considered a Los Angeles-bound one-year-rental, much like Leonard, but he gave the team a three-year commitment after spending a season playing alongside Russell Westbrook.

One Eastern Conference general manager noted that Chris Webber signed a seven-year contract with the Sacramento Kings when it initially looked like the forward wouldn’t want to commit to the team after being traded from the Washington Wizards.

“I wouldn't say we're all scared to death to make a deal because there's no chance he'll re-sign [with a team somewhere other than L.A.]," the GM told Bleacher Report. "PG did. C-Webb did.”

Leonard’s injury could be playing as much of a role in the Spurs’ lack of enticing offers as his contract status. The star only played nine games last season, and it still seems unclear what exactly was the issue with his leg. Leonard believed San Antonio’s medical staff misdiagnosed the injury, which is why he took his rehab away from the team to New York City.

Giving up promising young players and draft picks for a top-five player—even a potential one-year-rental—is one thing. It’s another to offer that same package for a player that hasn’t been healthy in over a year.

Maybe San Antonio’s best strategy is to let this play out for a few more months. The offers could get better once other teams get to see Leonard play in actual games.

“It seems like every other player is putting out a video on social media of them working out,” the Eastern Conference GM told Bleacher Report. “If Kawhi did one, he'd instantly get 35,000 hits, and half of them would be from NBA GMs. How can you make a deal or even an offer without knowing if he can play? He's got to be seen. If he came out and played in preseason and looked good, you'd definitely see teams trying harder to get him.”

The Lakers, 76ers and Celtics have been considered the most likely trading partners for the Spurs. All three teams have valuable assets that San Antonio would be interested in acquiring, but none seems willing to part with them in exchange for Leonard just yet.