Former NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard has shown a keen interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
The 26-year-old Leonard was sidelined for the most part of last year due to a quad injury. In his nine games with the San Antonio Spurs last season, the two-time NBA All-Star averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
A Code Red For Spurs
ESPN's Chris Haynes reports that Leonard felt betrayed with how the Spurs management took care of his quad injury. In 407 career games with the Spurs, Leonard averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals. His best year with the Spurs came in the 2016-2017 season where he tallied a career-high 25.5 points per game average to go along with 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Leonard, who is in the final year of his contract, can sign a five-year $219 million contract extension with the Spurs this summer. The two-time NBA Defensive Player Of The Year has reportedly contacted Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich in the past weeks but the two have yet to meet in person.
Popovich is currently out-of-town for the past week for personal matters. Both Leonard and Popovich were supposed to meet for a possibility of a contract extension but it never materialized.
Kahwi Leonard To The Lakers
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Leonard is not closing the door on the possibility of returning home to California and joining the LA Lakers. However, the Los Angeles native has yet to request a trade from the Spurs' management.
Leonard is currently making a great recovery in his return from the quad injury. He has been doing his training sessions in San Diego since May.
Right now, the LA Lakers are on a rebuilding process after finishing last season with a 35-47 win-loss record. The team last made the playoffs in the 2012-2013 NBA Season.
Besides Leonard, the Lakers are also looking to sign LeBron James and Paul George this offseason. Following the news, Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook predicts that the LA Lakers has a 6-1 odds of winning the NBA title next year.
Leonard moving to the Lakers would certainly create more fire to the already heated rivalry between LA Laker and San Antonio Spurs. It can be recalled that the Lakers beat the Spurs four times in a playoff series since 2000.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics are also willing to make a trade negotiation with the Spurs once Leonard is available. In this season's trade deadline, the Celtics inquired the trade availability of Leonard.
Aside from the Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers are also interested in signing Leonard.
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