By WFAN.com
Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants out of San Antonio. Could his next home arena be Madison Square Garden?
According to ESPN, Leonard has grown frustrated with how the Spurs handled the quad injury that limited him to just nine games last season. He believes the organization turned on him after he sought a second opinion, and the relationship between the Spurs and two-time All-Star appears to have deteriorated beyond repair, the report said.
A California native, Leonard's preferred landing spot is Los Angeles, preferably the Lakers, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard has Los Angeles — preferably the Lakers — at the center of his preferences for a trade destination, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2018However, Ian Begley, also of ESPN, reported that "people close to Leonard have expressed a desire for Leonard to play in New York." Leonard regularly traveled between San Antonio and New York this past season for treatment.
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, 2018No trade appears to be imminent.
Leonard, who turns 27 next week, will earn $20.1 million next season. The 6-foot-7 small forwawrd can become a free agent in the summer of 2019 if he choose not to exercise the $21.3 million option on his contract.
Being traded would hit Leonard hard in the pocketbook because he'd no longer be eligible for a super max deal, meaning the maximum he could sign for would be $31 million less on a five-year contract ($188 million compared to $219 million).
San Antonio selected Leonard with the 15th overall pick in 2011. He was an All-Star and finished in the top 3 in MVP voting in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
