Spurs To Meet With Kawhi Leonard To Discuss Future

Tuesday night marked an end to a long and strange season for the San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich’s squad had to deal with injuries to key players all season, most notably to franchise centerpiece Kawhi Leonard. Leonard was limited to just nine games all season due to a mysterious, lingering quad injury he suffered prior to the season.

Leonard was reportedly cleared to play by the Spurs’ doctors but opted to sit out instead. There was no real word on whether Leonard was actually physically able to return to action, but his apparent decision to not play has led to what appears to be a frosty relationship between the team and the player.

ESPN reported Wednesday that the Spurs’ brass, led by Popovich, is planning to meet with Leonard sometime this summer to discuss whether the two sides can work out whatever differences they may have. This summer, Leonard will be eligible to sign a new maximum extension worth $219 million. The decision to offer Leonard that kind of a deal ultimately rests with the team’s ownership, though it is not publicly known whether Kawhi even wants to remain with the team as of now.

The Spurs have historically had excellent relationships with their players, which is part of what has made the Leonard situation so unusual. Prior to this season, no rational person would have bet on the Spurs and Leonard engaging in an acrimonious drama. Now, though, the smart money seems to be on Kawhi playing somewhere else next season. If you’re into that sort of thing (and gamblingsitesonline.org has great recommendations), you may want to wager on the Spurs finding Leonard a new home before next season begins.

After the team’s season-ending loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, guard Danny Green said, “Kawhi, everybody asks questions, but he’s still here. He’s still locked in. He’s a part of the team until things change.”

Leonard has spent time recently rehabbing in New York City. Popovich, GM R.C. Buford and Leonard’s teammates have long insisted that the team wanted Kawhi to return to the court while admitting that the player’s long-term health is the most important thing.

The Spurs endured a similar situation last summer with LaMarcus Aldridge, who was reportedly unhappy with his role with the team. Rumors swirled that Aldridge was not long for the Spurs, but Popovich was able to mend the relationship, which ultimately culminated in Aldridge inking an extension to stay in San Antonio. Aldridge would go on to enjoy a stellar individual season, most of which came without Leonard on the floor.

The Spurs also had to deal with a personal tragedy when Popovich’s wife, Erin, passed away during their series against Golden State after a lengthy illness. Popovich missed the last three games of the series while grieving, and he was replaced on an interim basis by Ettore Messina. Messina and another Spurs assistant, Ime Udoka, are reportedly head coaching candidates for a couple of other teams.

The Spurs additionally do not know whether Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker will be back next season. The longtime veterans became the winningest duo in the history of the NBA playoffs with the team’s Game 4 victory over the Warriors (132 playoff wins together.) Ginobili is still under contract with San Antonio next season, but the Argentine insists a decision about his potential retirement has not yet been made.

Parker has insisted that he wants to play 20 seasons in the league, but he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Parker was demoted during the season as Popovich decided to install the younger Dejounte Murray as the team’s starting point guard. Parker averaged just 7.7 points and 3.5 assists in his 17th pro season. Parker earned over $15 million this season, but if he returns he will surely take a massive pay cut at this late stage of his career.

The Spurs have plenty of decisions to make this summer, but it all starts with figuring out what to do with Kawhi Leonard.