NBA Trade Rumors: Spurs Reluctant To Trade Kawhi Leonard Within Western Conference

Matt Borelli
3 Min Read
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

One of the more intriguing NBA storylines to follow this summer is the San Antonio Spurs’ standoff with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, and whether the organization will abide to his wish of being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a recent face-to-face meeting with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Leonard is said to have made it “very clear” that his desire is to play for his hometown team next season.

Despite Leonard’s dream of suiting up for the Lakers, the Spurs threw a wrench in those plans by recently shutting down Los Angeles’ first attempt to engage them in trade talks.

The Lakers aren’t alone in that department, as San Antonio has reportedly shunned other Western Conference teams interested in trading for Leonard as well, via Sam Amick of USA Today:

But in the days that followed, the Spurs wasted no time in sending this message all around the NBA: The only Western Conference team he might be playing for is theirs.

It’s hardly surprising that the Spurs appear unwilling to trade their homegrown star to an in-conference opponent, let alone a rival like the Lakers.

Leonard is widely viewed by many as the first piece to a potential Lakers’ super team. The 26-year-old would presumably entice the likes of LeBron James and Paul George to sign with Los Angeles and form the next unstoppable big three.

Whether San Antonio ultimately shifts course remains to be seen, but at the very least, they will take a patient approach in this process.

The Cleveland Cavaliers eventually came to terms in trading star point guard to the rival Boston Celtics last summer, but it didn’t come to fruition until the end of August.

As part of our efforts to help you understand how we handle the personal information you share with us, and in preparation for the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we’ve updated our Privacy & Cookies Policy. The updated Privacy & Cookies Policy will take effect on May 22, 2018. By using our services on or after that date, you’ll be agreeing to our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy. We recommend that you read our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy in full.

Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Lakers as a staff writer for Lakers Nation and holds similar responsibilities for Dodger Blue, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. Among Matt's all-time favorite Lakers moments include Kobe Bryant's 60-point performance over the Utah Jazz in his final NBA game, and Derek Fisher's game-winning buzzer-beater against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals. Follow Matt on Twitter: @mcborelli.