San Antonio Spurs fans have had a front-row seat to the latest Kawhi Leonard mess, and this one has landed with a little extra irony. While Leonard and the L.A. Clippers are being investigated by the NBA for alleged salary cap circumvention, the Spurs are watching the fallout from a distance after passing on a chance to bring him back.
The twist came when the Toronto Raptors agreed to a deal with the Clippers that would have sent Leonard back to Toronto, or at least that was the plan. The NBA then stepped in and warned the Raptors about possible punishment if the trade moved forward, effectively throwing the whole thing into uncertainty.
That leaves Toronto and Los Angeles stuck trying to figure out what comes next. The Raptors now have two choices: rework the deal or walk away. The original package was a hefty one, with Toronto set to give up Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap.
If the Raptors do try to salvage it, they could push to remove the first-round pick and the pick swap, especially with Leonard seemingly likely to be suspended or have his contract voided by the league. Even then, it would be a risk. But it might still be a gamble Toronto would be willing to take if the goal is landing Leonard.
For the Clippers, the downside could be even harsher. If the league voids Leonard’s contract, they could be left with nothing. Even worse, the NBA could take away all of their remaining selections and leave them stripped of draft capital.
If Toronto backs out entirely, the result is just as frustrating in a different way: no Leonard, no meaningful upgrade, and free agency essentially passing them by. Either way, neither team is in a comfortable spot, and Leonard is the reason both are there.
That’s what makes the Spurs’ position look so good right now. San Antonio appears to have put together an A+ offseason, strengthening its biggest weakness while also re-signing two starters on team-friendly deals.
Leonard’s departure from San Antonio left real damage behind, and it took years for the Spurs to work their way out of that hole. Now, they look like a championship contender again, and this offseason only added to that momentum.
No matter how the Clippers-Raptors situation ends, Leonard has already shaken up both of those teams. He can’t say the same about the Spurs anymore.
In Other News...
Spurs Fans May Have Finally Found The Rookie They Wanted
San Antonios first-round addition is drawing attention for all the right reasons, and not because he is arriving with a scoring-heavy reputation. Tarris Reed Jr. sounds ready to lean into the kind of role Spurs fans have long appreciated from their big men: defend, rebound, set hard screens and bring a physical edge every time he steps on the floor. In his first comments, Reed made clear he is comfortable doing the dirty work and letting effort, toughness and consistency define his early place in the rotation.
There is also a certain Spurs-specific appeal in the way Reed talks about the job ahead, with respect for the franchises standard and a willingness to earn everything that comes next. He has already begun taking in the culture around him, and the next part of the adjustment will be turning that mindset into real minutes and real impact. For a team that values discipline and detail, Reeds approach gives them a rookie who sounds built for the unglamorous parts of winning. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Are Waiting For Carter Bryant To Show Something Bigger
After his rookie season, Carter Bryant came back to the Spurs Summer League group with a chance to do more than just get extra reps. San Antonio wants him using this stretch to grow into a steadier presence, and coach Corliss Williamson has been clear that the next step is not only about talent, but about becoming more vocal and more reliable as the game speeds up around him.
Bryants development is still being treated as a longer-term project, even as the Spurs expect his role to expand next season. For now, the focus is on sharpening the parts of his game that can help him command more trust, especially in live action where decision-making and tone-setting matter as much as the shots he takes. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs May Have Finally Found The Young Big They Were Missing
The Spurs spent part of the offseason trying to patch a center rotation that left too much to be desired a year ago, and rookie Tarris Reed Jr. is quickly becoming the most interesting part of that effort. He is in Summer League now, but the organizations decision to trade up for him on draft night says plenty about how strongly it views his chances to help, especially as a physical interior presence who can set screens, clean the glass and give the offense a more traditional big-man option.
For San Antonio, the appeal is not just that Reed fits a need, but that he may fit it early. The Spurs have been searching for size they can trust behind their core, and Reeds path to real minutes could be clearer than most rookies if he keeps showing the same kind of steady, blue-collar value in Las Vegas. There is still another young big in the mix, but his situation adds a layer of uncertainty the Spurs would rather not have to lean on right away. [Read more 🡒]