The situation in San Antonio with Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs took a sharp left turn into bizarro-land this season, and the saga is only ramping up now that a potentially history-altering summer for the NBA is upon us.
The disconnect between Kawhi and the organization regarding his complicated recovery from a lingering injury has fueled speculation that he might try and demand a trade this offseason, and the litany of his rumored suitors has included everyone from the Celtics to the Lakers, Clippers and many others.
The Spurs, of course, would prefer to “mend fences” and move forward, much like they were able to do with LaMarcus Aldridge via noted smooth-talker Gregg Popovich last summer. And it appears they have some good news on that front, according to teammate Danny Green, who appeared on ESPN’s Get Up on Friday morning and claimed that Kawhi has confided in him that he wants to stay in San Antonio.
.@DGreen_14 says Kawhi Leonard has personally told him he wants to stay with the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/peoyJbjdHv
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 25, 2018
“It’s up in the air right now, but I think he wants to be in San Antonio,” Green said. “He’s let me know verbally that he wants to be there, so we’ll see what happens.”
There’s still plenty of work to be done in terms of mending this relationship, however. Both Popovich and certain of Kawhi’s teammates gave the perception at various points throughout this ordeal that they were skeptical about his inability to return to action this season and even appeared to question his commitment to the team and the organization.
But the Spurs and their fans now have reason to be optimistic that they can work something out with their franchise star.
