Young: sources tell @ExpressNews that Kawhi Leonard wants to be traded from Spurs

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Yeah no reason to jump the gun when this is a very real possibility. The other likely possibility is James still goes to LA, so does PG13, and James makes them salary dump Deng with Lolnzo to go get another player right now to give him a chance to win in year 1. James is not going to sign there to let Magic hold a $30 million salary slot open for Kawhi for a year since that capspace won't do to win him the 2018-19 le. Then Kawhi to the Lakers is impossible and I can't see the Celtics or Sixers scared of losing him to LA's B-team where he'd be the one man team. If LeBron stays in Cleveland the Spurs are probably boned though.

And based on their draft and lack of trades to date, I'm guessing he's as good as gone, anyway.

[exstatic]

It’s a poker game folks. You don’t win your table in one hand.

Uncle Dennis is playing Go Fish.

[baseline bum]

If anything, no trade tonight means the Spurs aren't really interested in an immediate, complete rebuild. We already knew this with Pop probably not interested in coaching a tanking team but this pretty much confirms it.

Or maybe it shows they're not going to be rushed into an awful deal. They could trade Kawhi for crap any time they want.

[Budkin]

How so?

It was mainly Rachel Nichols totally indignant that Amin Elhassan had the audacity to suggest that Kawhi should expand his list of places he would go. She was like “Why should Kawhi expand his list!? He already said he wants to go to the Lakers. Maybe the Spurs ought to realize they will end up with nothing!”

[K...]

You sit kawhi down and say "you're gonna have a miserable year if you keep acting like this. Everything you want is here, you just need to work for it. L.A. Isn't a free lunch, its a trash circus. LeBron isn't coming to rescue you.

[RD2191]

It was mainly Rachel Nichols totally indignant that Amin Elhassan had the audacity to suggest that Kawhi should expand his list of places he would go. She was like “Why should Kawhi expand his list!? He already said he wants to go to the Lakers. Maybe the Spurs ought to realize they will end up with nothing!”

Yeah, it was a little bizarre watching that tbh

[exstatic]

Options have definitely dwindled though so god I hope the front office holds. There aren't very many teams out there that make sense in trading for Kawhi besides the Lakers and I'm really not interested in any package that the Sixers can put together.

If LeBron signs there, Ben Simmons becomes expendable. He shoots as reluctantly as Kyle Anderson, and needs the ball to be effective. He’s one of a handful of players that wouldn’t be improved by playing with LeBron.

[toki9]

Hardest part of trading is waiting and not rushing into bad trades...If the team is willing to ride into the season and force Kawhi to play, then it probably means that Pop feels pretty confident that he can control the lockerroom, i.e., Kawhi won't be a distraction as long as he's with the team and away from his Uncle (And given Kawhi's apparently...neutral...personality, it's hard to see him antagonizing anyone in the lockerroom). But if this is indeed the case, then it's as good an indication as any that many of the complaints (such as betrayals by Pop and Parker) were just smokescreens generated by Kawhi's camp (which I think they were) and not really felt by Kawhi. It also says a lot about just how tough a guy Pop is.

[MannyIsGod]

If LeBron signs there, Ben Simmons becomes expendable. He shoots as reluctantly as Kyle Anderson, and needs the ball to be effective. He’s one of a handful of players that wouldn’t be improved by playing with LeBron.

If you think Philly is giving up on Ben Simmons you're out of your mind. Yeah, he's not a good shooter, but he's basically Jason Kidd.

[Mugen]

If LeBron signs there, Ben Simmons becomes expendable. He shoots as reluctantly as Kyle Anderson, and needs the ball to be effective. He’s one of a handful of players that wouldn’t be improved by playing with LeBron.

Pipe dream bruh. At this point if you're thinking trade, best you can hope for is a package centered around Jaylen Brown or hope the Lakers sweeten the deal around Ingram.

[Mr. Body]

If LeBron signs there, Ben Simmons becomes expendable. He shoots as reluctantly as Kyle Anderson, and needs the ball to be effective. He’s one of a handful of players that wouldn’t be improved by playing with LeBron.

Dude, no ing way is Simmons ever expendable.

[exstatic]

If you think Philly is giving up on Ben Simmons you're out of your mind. Yeah, he's not a good shooter, but he's basically Jason Kidd.

LeBron and Kawhi work better than LeBron and Simmons. I’m also assuming the Celtics are breathing down their necks with an offer designed to keep Kawhi away from Philly.

[SAGirl]

Maybe he’s still growing a bone in his thigh... /sigh

[Mugen]

What are the protections around the 2019 Sacramento pick that Boston owns tbh? Jaylen + that pick is going to be the best they do at this point...

[exstatic]

What are the protections around the 2019 Sacramento pick that Boston owns tbh? Jaylen + that pick is going to be the best they do at this point...

I believe that Sacto keeps it if it’s #1 or falls outside the top 10.

[Mugen]

I believe that Sacto keeps it if it’s #1 or falls outside the top 10.

Shiiiit, i'll take that. Jaylen Brown, Sac Pick, and one of the Grizz or Clipper picks. That's about 40 cents on the dollar but better than an Ingram/Kuz deal by a long shot tbh.

[Marcus Bryant]

Leonard's complaints are bull . He's the only NBA player Frankel is representing.

Anyways, Philly makes a lot of sense as a trade partner.

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/06/21/nb...leonard-grades

[baseline bum]

LeBron and Kawhi work better than LeBron and Simmons. I’m also assuming the Celtics are breathing down their necks with an offer designed to keep Kawhi away from Philly.

Stop, the Sixers aren't trading Simmons. He's the best rookie to come into the league since at least Davis and maybe even James.

[sasaint]

LeBron and Kawhi work better than LeBron and Simmons. I’m also assuming the Celtics are breathing down their necks with an offer designed to keep Kawhi away from Philly.

Kawhi would/will be a beast of a sidekick to LeBron.

[DAF86]

The truth is ppl change... If they misdiagnosed the guys injury and got mad he wanted a second opinion, then proceeded to throw shade at him as if he was faking it, I can understand why he would be pissed... That's no way to treat the franchise player... Kawhi has built the benefit of the doubt during his years here, and ppl now wanna throw that away based on assumptions? The one thing we know for certain is that the FO has been salty about not letting Manu and Parker go out with a blaze of glory... And Pop is waaay more loyal to them than Kawhi... So I'm sure that clouded his judgment... When he had Duncan, there was no one else to be loyal to but Duncan...

From where do we know that for certain?

[Marcus Bryant]

Between Philly and Boston you will get decent return for Leonard, especially if LeBron joins the Sixers. the LA teams.

[exstatic]

Stop, the Sixers aren't trading Simmons. He's the best rookie to come into the league since at least Davis and maybe even James.

If LeBron wants Kawhi, he gets Kawhi. He’ll want to win now.

[ace3g]

Paul Garcia pAulGarciaNBA
13s
RC Buford said the Spurs still want to keep Kawhi part of the organization.

[ace3g]

Mike Finger Mikefinger
41s
Asked RC Buford if he has a deadline for when he’d like to have the Kawhi drama settled. “Yesterday,” he said.



Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
1m
RC Buford acknowledges Spurs will "explore all options" with regards to Kawhi Leonard, but first one is to do what they can to keep him on the roster for as long as possible.

[Mr. Body]

Paul Garcia pAulGarciaNBA
13s
RC Buford said the Spurs still want to keep Kawhi part of the organization.

Send him to those camps they use to break cultists back to reality.