Report: Spurs keep trying to ‘raise the ante’ in Kawhi Leonard trade talks
The Philadelphia 76ers are among the teams that are interested in acquiring Kawhi Leonard via trade, but the star forward likely isn’t going anywhere until the San Antonio Spurs place a more realistic price tag on him.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that the Sixers have been in talks with the Spurs and are confident they could convince Leonard to sign an extension, but the Spurs “keep trying to raise the ante” for Leonard by claiming another team is offering more.
According to Pompey, the 76ers are likely offering a package that includes Dario Saric, Robert Covington and the Miami Heat’s 2021 unprotected first-round pick. While those are the two players the Spurs would want from Philly, they are believed to be asking for three future first-round picks. Very few — if any — teams are going to be willing to give up that much for Leonard without the promise of a long-term extension.
Leonard has been consistently linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, and he will be in total control of his own destiny after next season if he is determined to play with LeBron James. However, there have been some rumblings that the LeBron signing could have actually moved another team to the top of Leonard’s wish list.
If repairing their relationship with Leonard isn’t an option, the Spurs are going to have to take a more realistic approach in trade discussions. They simply don’t have much leverage if teams know Leonard has no intention of remaining in San Antonio beyond next season.
