San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard can now sign a massive five-year super max contract extension worth $221 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, but he'd lose a lot of money if traded to another team.
Per Marks, if Leonard were traded to another team, he'd have to wait six months before signing an extension. The maximum Leonard could sign for would be a four-year deal worth $108 million. If Leonard hit free agency next year, he could re-sign with his new team for $190 million over five-years.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is unhappy in San Antonio and requested a trade over a month ago, so it's unlikely he'll re-sign for $221 million. Leonard has been linked to a handful of teams in a possible trade, most namely the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers - who won the LeBron James sweepstakes two weeks ago.
Leonard's trade request stems from a frustrating 2017-18 season in San Antonio, in which he played just nine games. Leonard dealt with a nagging quad injury, which led to tension in the locker room. Teammate Tony Parker said he played through a quad injury that was much worse, and players reportedly begged Leonard to come back and help the team in their playoff run.
Head coach Gregg Popovich met with Leonard in hopes of rekindling their relationship, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski reported in June. That didn't change Leonard's stance on wanting to be traded, however, and the Spurs continue to try and find the right package deal for their franchise player.
If the Spurs can't find the right deal for Leonard, they can keep him for the 2018-19 season and hope that he changes his mind and signs the super max. But at this point, we can expect Leonard to put on a different uniform any time between now and the start of next year's free agency.