1. San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Ironically enough the Spurs are definitely on the list still despite this being the team he's trying to leave. This team still has a very old school style coach and team management office that could simply look at this situation as a superstar crying to get what he wants. The Spurs don't have to move Kawhi at all this offseason considering that his contract is not up until the end of the upcoming season, so they could easily stand pat and keep him active on the roster until the mid-season trade deadline. They could also keep him for the last year of his contract as a way to take an entire season to rekindle the relationship between him and the organization, while also smooth talking him into signing a five year 200+ million contract extension. The Spurs honestly have the most control over where Kawhi plays next year since he's not a free agent and does not have any trade clause in his current contract. Personally, this is where I see him being.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers
This would be the ideal situation for Kawhi considering this is where he wants to be. The key word, of course, is "wants". Kawhi has no choice in the matter due to his lack of a no-trade clause, but the Lakers do have potential assets for the Spurs as a part of a trade that would send him-him to Los Angeles. By pairing two of the three in Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Brandom Ingram along with the 25th pick in the draft, the Lakers could definitely make a decent pitch that intrigue the Spurs front office. Players like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker on this Spurs team are not getting younger which of course means that eventually, this team is going to start aiming in the direction of a youth movement. By acquiring a break out rookie in Kuzma, a third-year talent on the rise in Brandon Ingram and/or a high potential player in Lonzo Ball while also adding whoever they add with the 18th pick and the newly acquired 25th pick, the Spurs could take the 2018 offseason to make big strides in becoming a younger, more athletic team. It's also good to note that this works out for the Lakers as well because they would be acquiring a formidable superstar with the caliber to influence Lebron James and/or Paul George to also join the Lakers this offseason.
3. Boston Celtics
Kawhi Leonard, Boston Celtics
Just couldn't be a list regarding trading for a superstar level player without including the Celtics. With young talent like Terry Rozier, Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum on their roster along with the stockpile of picks that General Manager Danny Ainge has tucked away for all these years, the Celtics have to be in discussion just based off what they have to offer San Antonio. The biggest concern for Boston is whether or not they would be able to convince Kawhi of resigning at the conclusion of next season because obviously if they don't believe they can, giving all that talent for a one-year rental definitely wouldn't sound very attractive. In relation to Boston's impact on all this is based off the principle that they have everything to lose with minimal to gain if they acquire Kawhi but can't get him to stay. Nonetheless watch out for the Celtics' front office this offseason considering their history of swindling teams in trades like trading a banged up Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and a pick for Kyrie Irving along with their trade of a washed up Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets a few years for plethora of picks that they still own to this day.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Kawhi Leonard, Philadelphia 76ers
Honestly, this is the least likely the of the four, but there's definitely a possibility. The 76ers have assets such as Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz. I honestly don't think this would be a large enough haul for Kawhi Leonard and trading Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons should definitely be off the table. The 76ers could make a strong pitch after the draft, but really making a deal would only work in their favor if they did it prior to the draft since they had six picks in the draft including the 10th and 26th picks in the very first round.
The NBA offseason has hardly begun and this already could be at least the 2nd most important player after Lebron James regarding the team they play for next season. Where Kawhi ends up definitely could help in determining the contending teams for next season.
