Kawhi Leonard Rumors: Trade With Lakers Not Imminent, Spurs Can Offer Historic Contract

It’s now been more than a month since it was reported that Kawhi Leonard no longer wants to play for the San Antonio Spurs and not much has changed for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Leonard doesn’t appear close to being dealt, even though several teams are interested in trading for him.

The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers have all reportedly been in contact with San Antonio about Leonard. None of them have matched the Spurs’ asking price, and there’s reason to believe that won’t change over the course of the summer.

Boston is already the favorite in the Eastern Conference and unwilling to give up their budding stars. Philadelphia knows that Leonard has his sights set on L.A. and plans to head west as a free agent in 2019. The Lakers aren’t in a rush to acquire a superstar after signing LeBron James, and they’ve got a good chance to sign either Leonard or another star free agent next summer without giving up players or future draft picks. The Clippers probably don’t have enough attractive assets to complete a deal with the Spurs.

There’s been plenty of speculation that the Toronto Raptors could get in on the Kawhi Leonard Sweepstakes, but any evidence of the teams actually discussing a trade remains to be found. Perhaps Toronto or another surprise team will emerge and offer San Antonio a compelling package the way the Oklahoma City Thunder did in their trade for Paul George a year ago.

San Antonio is listening to offers, and the team is reportedly ready to move on from their best player if the right deal comes along. That doesn’t mean they’ve completely given up on re-signing Leonard.

As of Monday, the Spurs can offer Leonard a supermax contract. Leonard can only sign this extension with San Antonio because the team drafted him and he’s made an All-NBA team in two of the last three seasons.

The supermax would pay Leonard $221 million over five years, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Any team that trades for Leonard can give him a five-year, $190 million deal next summer. If Leonard changes teams in free agency, the biggest contract he can get is a four-year, $141 million deal.

Is it possible that San Antonio offers Leonard the supermax and he accepts? It would offer Leonard security after missing all but nine games in the 2017-2018 season. Leonard’s health remains a question mark, and it’s part of the reason why teams are reluctant to trade for him.

A year ago, players like DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas seemed destined to sign massive nine-figure contracts in 2018 free agency. Because of injuries, the former All-Stars both signed one-year deals this summer worth less than a combined $7.5 million.

The supermax offer might never come Leonard’s way if he truly doesn’t want to stay in San Antonio long term. Leonard could start the preseason or the regular season as a member of the Spurs and get traded once he proves that he’s fully recovered from the leg injury that kept him off the court for nearly all of last season.

Leonard finished second in the 2016 MVP voting and third in 2017. Three years after winning the 2014 NBA Finals MVP award, he set career-highs with 25.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.