Report: Teams Plotting Trade Offers for Kawhi Leonard This Summer

It should be a very interesting off-season for Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs.

The situation between Leonard and the organization can only be described as bizarre as Leonard has only appeared in nine games and despite being cleared by the team weeks ago, he has yet to return to the court in the midst of the Spurs playoff push.

Because of the potential, and at this point maybe likely, unrest between Leonard and the Spurs, many teams are gearing up to offer trade packages that could entice the Spurs this off-season.

Here is what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on “Outside the Lines”:

“I have already talked to several NBA general managers. At the end of this season, teams will call the Spurs and inquire about the availability of Kawhi Leonard.”

This is what Zach Lowe of ESPN tweeted in response to Slam story on Leonard trade rumors…

Not that Windy needs any confirmation, ever, but this is 100% true. Vultures are circling, in hopes of action around the draft. https://t.co/Osp4WLofgv

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 3, 2018

It is obvious that the relationship is tense between the Spurs and Leonard and knowing the Spurs culture and ability to get the job done with less talent as long as that talent buys in, it really does feel like a Kawhi Leonard trade is an actual possibility this summer.

There are a few teams that come to mind as contenders for Leonard this off-season: Celtics, Cavaliers, Suns, Wizards and Blazers.

Here is a hypothetical trade scenario that would work by NBA cap standards for each:

Cavaliers Receive: Kawhi Leonard
Spurs Receive: Tristan Thompson, Cedi Osman, Ante Zizic, 2018 Brooklyn 1st Round Pick

Celtics Receive: Kawhi Leonard
Spurs Receive: Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, Arron Baynes, Guerschon Yabusuele, Abel Nader

Suns Recieve: Kawhi Leonard
Spurs Recieve: Josh Jackson, Tyson Chandler, No. 15 pick (Suns only get Milwaukee pick if it is No. 15 or No. 16), No. 16 pick

Wizards Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills
Spurs Receive: Otto Porter, Kelly Oubre, Wizards 2018 1st Round Pick

Blazers Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills
Spurs Receive: C.J. McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu

I think the best deal here would be the deal from Portland as they would get an All-star caliber guard in return in McCollum and a lock down defender in Aminu.

The most realistic feels like the Cavaliers or Suns trade, assuming the Spurs would have any interest in taking on Tristan Thompson’s contract or see Josh Jackson as a potential Leonard replacement.

This summer will be fun.