The trade talks surrounding San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard continue to rumble on.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald reports the Spurs are engaged in trade talks with several teams on Leonard, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Here's more from Wojnarowski:
The Spurs are clearly open to making a deal in the short-term, but remain in pursuit of a major return of assets for Leonard, a two-time first-team All-NBA player. San Antonio has had hopes of repairing its tattered relationship with Leonard and ultimately get to a comfort level with offering the $219 million super maximum contract extension. Leonard can opt-out of his contract and become a free agent next summer.
For now, the urgency of the Lakers July 1 free agent push for LeBron James and Paul George places a clock on its talks with the Spurs.
The Spurs have long been most intrigued with Boston's trade assets, but it remains unclear how rich of a package the Celtics are willing to offer without a full understanding of the long-term implications of Leonard's quad injury, nor an assurance that they can be certain of Leonard's willingness to consider a long-term commitment next summer, league sources said.
In short, it appears the Spurs are ready to move on from Leonard, writes McDonald, and the Lakers and Celtics appear to be the most compatible trade partners at this point:
Two clubs have emerged as the most compatible trade partners: The Los Angeles Lakers, Leonard’s preferred destination, and the Boston Celtics, whose deep cache of assets - including as many as four first-round picks in next year’s NBA draft - the Spurs are said to covet.
Cleveland, Philadelphia and the L.A. Clippers have also called about a Leonard deal, but it is unclear how much traction those talks have made, if any.
Though the situation could change in a matter of days or even hours, the Leonard era in San Antonio appears to be on its last legs.
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Rival executives do not expect the Spurs to rush a trade, even with the NBA’s free agency period set to open late Saturday night.
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The Spurs’ newfound willingness to discuss a Leonard deal might be in response to an increased quality of the offers they are receiving.
Additionally, The New York Times' Marc Stein reports (via Twitter) that league sources indicate the Spurs are "ready" to move on from Leonard:
This doesn't guarantee Kawhi Leonard is going to the Lakers this week -- since San Antonio could always trade him elsewhere and/or drag things out -- but league sources say of the Spurs: "They're ready" to move on from Kawhi
The Lakers and Spurs reportedly re-engaged in trade discussions surrounding Leonard on Wednesday. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday night that, despite the Spurs' attempts to make peace with their disgruntled star, an overwhelming offer from the Lakers could spark a deal.
Both teams also believe a Leonard trade would "likely clinch" a commitment from LeBron James to join the Lakers as a free agent, per ESPN. James has until Friday at 11:59 ET to decline his player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers to become an unrestricted free agent.
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