The San Antonio Spurs are engaged with several teams in trade talks regarding All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, league sources told ESPN.
The Spurs are clearly open to making a deal in the short term, but they remain in pursuit of a major return of assets for Leonard, a two-time first-team All-NBA player. San Antonio has had hopes of repairing its tattered relationship with Leonard and ultimately getting to a comfort level with offering the $219 million super maximum contract extension. Leonard can opt out of his current deal and become a free agent next summer.
For now, the urgency of the Lakers' free-agent push for LeBron James and Paul George on Sunday places a clock on talks with the Spurs.
The Spurs have long been most intrigued with Boston's trade assets, but it remains unclear how rich of a package the Celtics are willing to offer without a full understanding of the long-term implications of Leonard's quadriceps injury, or an assurance that they can be certain of Leonard's willingness to consider a long-term commitment next summer, league sources said.
The Lakers are motivated to make a deal for Leonard on several fronts, including the potential boost it would give them in luring James to Los Angeles. Leonard wants a trade to the Lakers now, and he has expressed his desire to sign with them in free agency in 2019.
The Lakers are willing to include former No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram and a future first-round pick in a package for Leonard, but the Spurs are seeking a far more complete haul of young Lakers players and future picks, league sources said.