NBA Free agency 2015: Spurs, Kawhi Leonard agree to $90 million extension

The San Antonio Spurs and forward Kawhi Leonard have agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract extension, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports.

This move locks up Leonard through his prime. Leonard was set to enter the restricted free-agent market, and although chances were that he would return to San Antonio, things can get dicey. Instead, the Spurs were able to secure and now will start targeting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who is being courted by at least a half-dozen teams.

Last year, Leonard was named the Defensive Player of the Year after being named the 2014 NBA Finals MVP. Leonard averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 2014, showcasing why he is one of the premiere two-way players in the game. Leonard is also just 24 years old, and figures to be the main cornerstone of the franchise once Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker eventually hang up the sneakers.

While the Spurs are hoping to retool the roster a bit this offseason after a first-round playoff exit to the Los Angeles Clippers, Leonard is part of the solution. Head coach Gregg Popovich discussed what the fans should expect moving forward, per ESPN.com.

"“The team will probably look considerably different than it looks this year because we have so many free agents and we want to retool a little bit,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the season. “We want to try to start — not exactly over again — but these last four seasons have been a grind. And we put the team together with that in mind, that this year we’d have all the free agents so we can decide what we want to do moving forward as far as the makeup of the team.”"

With Leonard now secured, the Spurs can begin going outside of the organization for help. Should they be able to land Aldridge or someone of his talent level, San Antonio would have to be considered extremely dangerous and perhaps co-favorites in the West along with the Golden State Warriors.