The Kawhi Leonard saga is set to dominate the NBA offseason this year, and while the San Antonio Spurs are open to trading the star, they're understandably averse to sending him to a Western Conference team.
According to USA Today's Sam Amick, the organization is hoping to mend their relationship with Leonard, but would rather ship him off to the Eastern Conference if they can't find middle ground as they would only have to face him twice during the regular season.
The Los Angeles Lakers, previously thought to be a prime destination team for the 26-year-old, were immediately spurned upon approaching the Spurs over trade negotiations for the player, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
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Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski have both claimed that Leonard will inform teams interested in his signature that he intends to sign with the Lakers when he becomes a free agent next year. Yet San Antonio doesn't want him remaining in the West if it's not in their jersey.
“When Leonard’s desire to be traded from San Antonio to the Lakers was leaked via several media outlets last week, it was natural to wonder if he would become the star who compels James to come to LA," Amick wrote.
"But in the days that followed, the Spurs wasted no time in sending this message all around the NBA: The only Western Conference team he might be playing for is theirs. Fellow West teams have been told, in essence, to get lost – none more so than the Lakers."
Meanwhile, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has told reporters that the team fully intends to keep their crown jewel but will explore their options.
"Kawhi and his family mean a lot to our organization and to our community," Buford said after Thursday's NBA Draft. "While none of us would wish we are where we are, we are going to do what we can to build the best relationship we can with him. We will explore all of our options, but the first one would be to keep Kawhi as part of our group."
Leonard only played nine games for the Spurs last season due to a quad injury he claims was misdiagnosed. He clearly wants out of San Antonio this summer, and seemingly has his heart set on moving to L.A. But the Spurs will try all they can to have him stay put.