The five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs have taken its hatred for 16-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers a notch higher.
This comes after Spurs revealed that they won't be trading All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Lakers this season. Just last week, Leonard publicly announced his desire to play in Los Angeles, preferably with the L.A. Lakers. The 26-year-old NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2014 hails from Los Angeles, California.
Upon hearing the news of Leonard's preference, the Lakers immediately contacted the Spurs in hopes of engaging in trade negotiations but no deal materialized. Sources close to the situation say that the Spurs will likely not trade Leonard to a Western Conference team.
"They basically shut the door on us," said the source close to the Lakers when asked if the trade negotiations with the Spurs gained any traction.
Will Leonard Stay?
Leonard has been engaging in talks with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich in the past few days to discuss the possibility of a contract extension. The two-time NBA defensive player of the year, who will become a free agent in 2019, is eligible on signing a five-year $219 million supermax extension.
Popovich and the Spurs are hoping to mend its broken relationship with Leonard, who is mad with how the management handled his injury. Leonard missed most of last season due to a quad injury. In his nine appearances last year, Leonard still managed to fill up the stat sheet with impressive averages of 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Earlier this week, Leonard has reportedly recovered from his quad injury and is now a hundred percent healthy. He has been working his way into recovery in a San Diego training facility since last May. At his best, Leonard is a monster on both ends of the floor with career-high averages of 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Boston Celtics Are Favorites
With the Spurs not giving up Leonard to a Western Conference squad, the Boston Celtics now emerged as one of the favorites to land Leonard. The Celtics have been trying to get Leonard since last season, even asking for his availability in this year's trade deadline.
Besides the Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also shown its interest in bringing the four-time All-Defensive team member to Ohio. Numerous reports suggest that the Cavaliers are willing to let go of Kevin Love in exchange for Leonard.
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