The Spurs reportedly suspect Leonard’s camp is attempting to sabotage his relationship with San Antonio so he can play in a larger market.
As suspected, more information about Kawhi Leonard and his strained relationship with the San Antonio Spurs has come out. With the Spurs out of the NBA playoffs, the Spurs have made meeting with Leonard a top priority. But even with a supermax deal hanging in the balance, Kawhi and his side have their story to tell. According to a new report today by ESPN, Leonard’s quad injury may have originated in 2016 or 17. But even with the Spurs medical team working on the injury, pain continued. Thus, Leonard sought out outside opinions. This, in turn, would create the strained relationship between the two camps.
But the Spurs may believe that the Leonard camp could be escalating the situation. Possible reason? To move Leonard into a larger market.
"Multiple league sources also told ESPN that the Spurs have grown worried that Leonard’s group has an ulterior motive to fray the relationship and get Leonard traded to a larger market such as Los Angeles (Leonard’s hometown) or New York or Philadelphia (Robertson lives in New Jersey).One source close to Buford said the longtime executive admitted to him that he’s constantly losing sleep over how and why the relationship with Leonard has disintegrated.For years, the Spurs saw him as the heir apparent to Duncan, both in his ability on the court and his low-maintenance personality off it."
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With teams such as the Warriors, Rockets and the Celtics only getting better, the Spurs need Leonard for the future. The only issue comes is if Leonard ill want to play elsewhere. But for this situation to not looking like an ugly divorce, egos must be left by the wayside.