San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants to be traded. The New York Knicks are one of three reported teams on his radar.
The 2018 NBA offseason is unexpectedly shaping up to be one for the ages. Despite the short list of franchises with cap space, including a cash-strapped New York Knicks team, a number of All-NBA mainstays could change teams.
New York is the opposite of financially flexible, but Scott Perry and company may have a shot at a superstar after all.
Chris Haynes of ESPN set the basketball world ablaze with a report that Kawhi Leonard wants to be traded by the San Antonio Spurs. Multiple reports soon followed, with consistent statements that there are irreparable differences.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers are Leonard’s preferred destinations.
Sources: So far, Leonard has expressed nothing directly to Spurs about future. Lakers and Clippers interest Leonard -- and both teams would move quickly to assemble packages to acquire Leonard. Spurs won't rush. Leonard and his camp had shown interest in $219M super max deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2018
Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, there’s one other team on the list: The Knicks.
There are more than a few teams who can offer a better package to San Antonio for Kawhi than the Knicks can (assuming they don’t include Porzingis), but people close to Leonard have expressed a desire for Leonard to play in New York, per sources. https://t.co/CTs0ISkKXv
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 15, 2018
It’s unclear what New York can offer, but there’s certainly reason for Scott Perry and the front office to do what it can to pursue a deal.
Leonard missed a vast majority of the 2017-18 NBA season with a mysterious injury. The reports revealed few details, and the comments by the Spurs suggested that there was a rift between the franchise player and the organization.
The latest reports offer strong support of that indication, as Leonard and San Antonio appear to have burned a bridge that can’t be repaired.
Thankfully for the Knicks, they’re one of the teams on the radar for the former Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The advantage that the Knicks have is that 26 other franchises may be unwilling to trade for a 2019 free agent who wants to play in New York or Los Angeles. They’d have to give up a healthy sum, and would do so for a player who could walk in a calendar year.
For the Knicks, the question will beckon: How much are they willing to give up for an MVP candidate who plays elite defense, but also commands a hefty price?
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