We already know that disgruntled San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s been made clear more than once. Los Angeles also remains the overwhelming favorites to land the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The issue here is that Leonard is under contract for one more season. He can’t pick and choose where he lands. If San Antonio does ultimately deal the forward, it will certainly look for the best possible trade package. Or not.
According to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports, the Spurs have been telling fellow Western Conference squads that they’ll only trade Leonard back east.
“Fellow West teams have been told, in essence, to get lost,” Amick noted. “As it stands, the Spurs are determined to either fix the situation or trade Leonard to an Eastern Conference team.”
As the insider indicates, Los Angeles itself has pretty much been told that it won’t acquire Leonard in a trade.
This is a lot to take in. If San Antonio is limiting potential trade partners to the Eastern Conference, the bounty it receives in a trade will likely be impacted. Pitting as many teams against one another for Leonard would certainly up his value. It’s a simple supply and demand situation.
In going this route, the Spurs are seemingly valuing the idea of not going up against Leonard in the Western Conference more than what they’ll ultimately receive for him.
If this is the case, we expect the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers to show themselves as the top favorites to land Leonard moving forward.