I CAN'T believe I'm asking this question, and NEVER thought in my entire life this would even be a possibility, but do you think Kawhi Leonard has played his final game for the Spurs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qJq6rD6DxMThe NBA Countdown crew was discussing this yesterday before the Rockets-Spurs game, and Jalen Rose and The Truth think Kawhi has played his last game as a Spur. Beadle also thinks this could be the case (though sad for her since I think she's a Spurs fan LOL). Anyways, then Jalen made the prediction that Boston trade for Kawhi, while Pierce thinks the Lakers should and will acquire him this summer.
Personally, I think this is sort of like the Aldridge situation where it seemed there was tension between him and Popovich (and the organization), but they settled it and now Aldridge is a legit all-star and primary option for the Spurs (no problems anymore at all). Maybe Kawhi and the Spurs sort this out during the summer and he signs that super-max extension and remains a Spur for life.However, I think it's also telling that while the team played at San Antonio yesterday and the Playoffs are near, Kawhi is getting treatment at New York THIS LATE into the year. He's not even with the team and hasn't been for almost the entire season.
Idk, it just all seems so bizarre. I love Kawhi and think he's honestly underrated (easily a Top-5 player in the league when healthy and easily the best two-way player in the league), but like Irving, maybe there's a "different side" to him than we realized.
Leonard has one year of control left (around 20M next season), and he could either opt-in with his player option in 2019 and get traded to another team (Like CP3 last summer), or simply opt-out and sign as a FA elsewhere the summer of 2019.
Anyways, what do you guys think and/or predict? As I stated in the bold, I predict Kawhi remains a Spurs legend/superstar for life.
And frankly, I'm fine with the team we have and don't think gutting our assets for Davis or Leonard is worth it at this point. Both come with some big injury risks it seems as well.