The NBA draft came and went for the Lakers without any true surprises (beyond revealing Isaac Bonga is a person who exists), but that felt apropos when all the talk is currently centered around superstars, rather than kids who’ve yet to put on an NBA uniform. Specifically, the chatter involves disgruntled Spurs small forward and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, whose current employer now openly acknowledges the friction.
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During Thursday’s draft night, Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford told the assembled media that “Kawhi and his family mean a lot to our organization and to the community. While none of us would wish we are where we are, we’re going to do what we can to build the best relationship we can with him, and we’ll explore all of our options. But the first one would be to do what we can to keep Kawhi as a part of our group.”
Moreover, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the Lakers attempted a very basic exploratory call upon hearing Leonard formally requested a trade, and the Spurs “basically shut the door on us.”
No players were mentioned during a conversation apparently so brief it’s not even clear whether Rob Pelinka managed a full “hello” before being told “goodbye.”
In other words, nobody is panicking down by the San Antonio River Walk. Should the writing on the wall become too evident to ignore, I expect the Spurs to pull the trigger and turn the page. Nobody likely wins from dragging out this drama. But until then, I also expect one of the most successful franchises over the last two decades in all of sports, much less the NBA, to exercise patience, employ a methodical strategy and ignore all the noise.
But how best to figure out when that time arrives? Obviously, moving parts around the NBA dictating the Spurs’ decisions are too fluid for reliable prediction-making. (San Antonio also hopes Leonard’s mental and emotional state are fluid, allowing for a change of heart). But thinking over the situation, I can’t help but wonder if, like the Lakers, the Spurs could be engaged in a waiting game with Thunder small forward Paul George, an impending free agent heavily linked to the purple and gold. And for two primary reasons.
First, the Spurs will want as much information as possible about whether or not they’re truly helping the Lakers build a superteam, with George in the fold and LeBron James the anticipated head of the snake. It’s already tough sledding in the west with the Warriors and the Rockets staring down at you, plus a team like the Jazz on the definitive rise. Do you really want to assist the construction of yet another juggernaut?
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That it would be the Lakers to boot apparently matters around the league if you ask Pelinka, but for the Spurs, that’s a particularly tricky question. There’s a legitimate rivalry between franchises who spent much of the 2000s passing the Larry O’Brien back and forth, and Spurs fans, who pride themselves on sustained excellence despite their small market “have-not” existence, won’t take kindly to their MVP-level player getting moved to a franchise they consider the embodiment of moneyed entitlement.
The optics of helping the Lakers create NBA Voltron ain’t pretty for San Antonio. Appeasing a fanbase could require pushing especially hard in negotiations, even with other teams around the league spooked that Leonard is a given to bolt for the Lakers, and therefore reluctant to offer the Spurs a better deal.
Which brings up the second reason to wait on George.
George’s interest in the Lakers is more than just rumored. He’s openly acknowledged it. But at the same time, George has praised the hell out of the Thunder all season. He and Russell Westbrook appear to have formed a real friendship, and OKC can offer him the most money.
There are credible reporters who think, at the very least, George is now wrestling with a real decision. With that in mind, should George actually decide to re-up with the Thunder, that could convince other theoretical trade partners that despite whatever you’re hearing from Leonard’s “group,” there’s a legit chance of retaining him even if you’re not the Lakers.
That in turn offers the Spurs more options and perhaps a better return on a deal, including one from a heretofore less-empowered Lakers. And if George goes to the Lakers, the prevailing narrative gets reinforced in a way that hurts San Antonio, but it’s more or less how they would have been operating, anyway. From my vantage point, the potential upside far outweighs the degree of ensuing damage. As Matthew Broderick’s character says in “The Freshman,” “there’s a kind of freedom in being completely screwed, because you know things can’t get any worse.”
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In that sense, unless they get a unexpected offer they simply know can’t be refused, the Spurs might as well sit tight and wait for the ‘Paul George Domino’ to fall. It can only help, and every shred of advantage possible matters before making a franchise-altering decision.
(Top Photo: Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)