Kawhi Leonard Rumors: NBA Executive Expects Spurs To Trade Disgruntled Star

Disgruntled San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard is expected to be traded this summer, according to an NBA Western Conference executive.

Last month, it was heavily reported that Leonard wanted out of San Antonio with a preference to move to the Los Angeles Lakers where he could potentially team up with LeBron James, who officially signed his contract Monday.

However, it was reported last week that Leonard no longer had a preference to play for the 16-time champions as he does not want to play second fiddle to James. With his desire to move to his native Los Angeles, the Clippers then emerged as his preference. However, they currently lack the assets to offer an enticing package to the Spurs.

With the 28-year-old currently having a year left on his deal, the Spurs have some leverage in that they can choose who they trade Leonard to or keep him for a year where he can then leave as an unrestricted free agent.

However, the ideal scenario is trading him now in order to not lose for him nothing next year. And that is why the Western Conference executive believes he will be traded sooner rather than later.

“It’s weird, right? Where do you think he goes?" the executive asked The Undefeated's Justin Tinsley during the NBA Summer League over the weekend. "You gotta expect that he’s gone sooner than later. You don’t want that dragging into the season. And for someone like Kawhi, you absolutely have to get something in return. … It’s like the entire league is just waiting on the shoe to drop."

Before news emerged that they were no longer his preference, the Lakers were in discussions over Leonard, however, the Spurs were demanding Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, as well as two first-round draft picks and the swapping of two more draft picks in return.

The other team that seems to be majorly interested and have the assets is the Philadelphia 76ers. The Spurs reportedly asked them for three future first-round draft picks and two current players, but if one of those players do not include one of either Markelle Futlz, Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid, it will likely be rejected.

After missing out on James in free agency, the focus for the Sixers appears to be signing the 2014 Finals MVP and they are reportedly the only team in the Eastern Conference Leonard would consider joining.

Sixers managing partner Josh Harris spoke about the challenges that come with trying to acquire a star like Leonard, especially as he can leave after just one year even if he did sign with Philly.

"For every significant player that is a star that we have the ability to get, whether that is in free agency or trades or developing Markelle, we are focused on each one of those players," Harris said, according to ESPN. "Not all of them fit, but a lot of them do. Certainly, if you sign them as a free agent, you get them for free. If you have to give up a lot of stuff, you factor that in and take that into account."

"Just from our point of view, we are on a great trajectory right now, almost without it. I think we certainly would add, and more than we would, we are really spending hour after hour trying to figure out how to add and try to manage those types of risks," he said.

"Whether it be certainly a lot of the players you would trade for, there are risks that they are not going to be with your team, you don't necessarily have them on a long-term contract. So we talk about this stuff endlessly and how to manage those risks. If the right situation comes, where we can acquire somebody that will really add value to our program, and the cost of it isn't prohibitive, then we will move forward and do that. If that doesn't come along for whatever reason, we will keep moving forward with our program. Just based on what we did this offseason, we are going to get better and move closer to our goal, which is that NBA championship that we keep talking to. If we get the right deal, we will do it," he added.