Report: No scenario where Spurs' Kawhi Leonard tests free agency
Kawhi Leonard has no plans on leaving San Antonio this offseason when he will be a restricted free agent, according to a report from Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski.
At the moment, "there's no scenario where Leonard plans to pursue offer sheets on the market." The 23-year-old rising star, who earlier this week was named Defensive Player of the Year, will command max-level money, and the Spurs are expected to give it to him. Leonard has "no desire to chase fame in a big market," Wojnarowski reports.
Last season's Finals MVP, Leonard turned in a stellar 32-point performance Friday night to put the Spurs up 2-1 in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. He's emerged as one of NBA's top two-way players. Though Tim Duncan's future beyond this season, as the 39-year-old franchise player could be nearing retirement, is uncertain, San Antonio plans on keeping Leonard around as another cornerstone.
"Leonard wants to be a Spur," writes Wojnarowski, "and the Spurs are expected to come calling on July 1 with the max offer that they resisted delivering Leonard in the preseason, a move born out of preserving cap space to bring on a star free agent this summer."
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The Spurs have recently been rumored as potential suitors for Portland star and pending free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.
San Antonio and Los Angeles will play Game 4 on Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
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- Jeremy Woo