ESPN Provides New Update On A Kawhi Leonard-Lakers Trade
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Kawhi Leonard is now the biggest NBA star that could potentially be on the move this summer, with LeBron James making his decision to go to the Lakers, Chris Paul opting to stay put in Houston and DeMarcus Cousins shocking the world by heading to Golden State.
What's the latest on the situation with Kawhi, the Spurs, the Lakers and the rest of the NBA? Here is the latest update.
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski provided a new update on the situation recently, making it seem like a Kawhi-Lakers trade is unlikely - or at least far away - at this point.
The Spurs are reportedly not getting a ton of calls about Leonard, as teams know that he wants to end up in Los Angeles. There are still concerns about his injury status, too.
"There's no bidding war going on… there's concerns about Kawhi Leonard, teams don't know the medical, the quad injury," Woj said on ESPN. "They don't know how he's going to return from it. And they know that he wants to play in Los Angeles."
The Lakers are now believed to be willing to wait for Kawhi until free agency. He's set to become a free agent in 2019 and Los Angeles could get him then without having to give up some of their assets now.
The Spurs are reportedly asking for a lot in return for Kawhi at this point, too.
Reports suggest that the Spurs are asking the Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and multiple first-round picks. That's...quite a lot, especially for a player who you could have for nothing in about 12 months.
There is a chance, of course, that Kawhi could be traded to another NBA franchise, end up loving it there and staying put, spurning the Lakers, but that appears to be a risk Los Angeles is willing to take right now.
