Fansided

5 potential trade scenarios for Kawhi Leonard

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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If the San Antonio Spurs entertain trading Kawhi Leonard this offseason, these five deals would make some sense.

The spirit was willing, but ultimately the San Antonio Spurs succumbed to the Golden State Warriors 4-1 in their first-round playoff series. Kawhi Leonard played just nine regular season games due to a lingering quad injury, with signs (clear and subtle) he and the team are at a point of discontent regarding his rehab and recovery.

Leonard is now heading into the final year of his contract, with a player option ($21.3 million) for 2019-20. Approaching 27 years old (June 29), and arguably the best two-way player in the league when fully healthy, Leonard is either still a building block for the Spurs or a trade chip to reset things.

San Antonio can offer Leonard the most in a contract extension, and on July 1 they can sign him to a five-year, $219 million supermax deal. But it’s unclear if the Spurs want to do it at this point, or if Leonard even wants to stay in San Antonio long-term. It would be against his grain for Leonard to go public with a trade demand, but perhaps a private demand will or already has been given to general manager R.C. Buford.

If the Spurs make Leonard available this offseason, which is a huge “if”, these five trade scenarios would make sense. Although, it’s worth noting that sense is relative here. We have no idea how the market for Leonard would be affected by his injury woes or whether the Spurs would be looking to tear down to the studs or just rebuild on the fly.

Note: All trades were certified through ESPN’s Trade Machine

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