Since LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014, the organization has remained committed to doing whatever is necessary to acquire players that bolster their roster and give them a better chance of winning the NBA Championship.
And that continued in the early part of the offseason, as USA Today reported the Cavaliers inquired about acquiring San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard.
Earlier this offseason, Leonard made it known that he wanted out of San Antonio, and preferred destinations for the 6-foot-7, 230-pound seven-year veteran included New York and Los Angeles.
During the 2017-2018 season, Leonard played in only nine games because of an injured right quadriceps muscle, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over 23.3 minutes of play.
Leonard was cleared for a return by San Antonio’s medical personnel, but sighting second opinions from physicians outside of the organization, he spent much of the year rehabilitating the injury in New York, far away from his teammates and coaches.
Over his seven seasons with the Spurs, Leonard averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals over 30.4 minutes in 407 games, 380 of which he started for the Western Conference powerhouse.
The initial trade inquiry did not gain traction, but should the Spurs elect to deal Leonard, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract in 2015, they would prefer to send him to an Eastern Conference team.
A Western Conference All-Star in both 2016 and 2017, Leonard won back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016, and earned the 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the Spurs defeated James and the Miami Heat for the league championship.