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Kawhi Leonard's situation is not lacking in outstanding issues – which caused the apparent 180 with his relationship to the team, what he really wants now, if a team without warranties to retain him would take a bet anyway – but there remains only one A true constant when it comes to trading: is he still in good health?
"No team will put their best chips before being rebadured about Leonard's health and the chances of signing it," writes Zach Lowe in his latest article. on the current saga, tedious and more and more complicated.
Leonard reportedly withdrew his rehabilitation from Spurs medical staff in the fall of last year. Per Ramona Shelburne and Michael Wright, he and his camp saw at least one other group before settling on Dr. Jonathan Glashow, a New York-based orthopedic surgeon who also worked with the New Jersey Devils and the New Jersey Devils. Philadelphia 76ers. Some time later, the title of Return from Injury Management was removed from his injury reports, and Leonard's observations in San Antonio have become rare.
The stalemate eventually spreads, manifesting itself in reports of a meeting of only players and Gregg Popovich's references to Kawhi's "group" when he was questioned about it. his status at that time. The reality of the injury, its management, and the suspended return of it became a mystery that, it seems, even the team did not know.
"The Spurs were in the dark most of the season," Wright said on the Back to Back podcast Thursday . "Some of the things that were happening were crazy … There was a point during his rehabilitation process in New York, that some of the Spurs' brbad went to see him in New York. arrived at the building, the people of Kawhi caught him and kidnapped him in another part of the building so that the Spurs guys could not see him. "
The account throws a little light on a situation that played behind closed doors for a whole season. With that, there are other questions about Leonard's motives for taking flight and the other moments that Yakety Sax might deserve of the season, but the same level of secrecy seems to be invading months later.
The Jabari Young from San Antonio Express went on NBA television this week and echoed the same "96, 97%" approximation last month, having not received an update but anticipating that Leonard would be ready for the start of the 2018-19 season.
Beyond that, there is no guarantee for those of us on the outside, and apparently for the offices of the opposition. "The potential contenders for Leonard have no idea of how healthy he is, when they can get permission to speak with his representatives, or how much they should be speaking from these representatives," writes Lowe. "The rival leaders who snort around Leonard joked that they'd be content with an Instagram video just to know that Leonard is completely outpatient."
No exchange can materialize without the teams clearly understanding how much Leonardo is coming back. anything that is wrong with him. This brings us back to the Sixers, and this conversation between Adrian Wojnarowski and ESPN's Bobby Marks in the latest Woj Pod:
"Philly is unique because one of their main team doctors was the doctor Kawhi went to see for a second opinion in New York … I think it's very conceivable that Philly had more medical knowledge about Kawhi Leonard than the Spurs. access to them. "
What the Sixers do or want to do can be as revealing as anything about Leonard's status. The Lakers, as Lowe has confirmed, have no plans to sell the farm for him, knowing that he can simply sign with them next summer. The Celtics, branded, will not even separate Terry Rozier for him. The Clippers can enter the fray, but who knows they have coins that even attract the Spurs. The other teams, given the lack of access and less incentive to risk key parts for a one – year lease, seem even less likely to involve them.
Another consideration is the lack of permission teams have had to consult with Leonard's medical team, probably a decision made by the Spurs while they are patiently wading into the trade negotiations. The understanding according to Woj and other reports is that they actually take calls, but it is interesting to ask if the extra insulation can be an effort to repair the barriers with the star who would be unhappy and who is still under contract for another season.
That leaves us here, weeks removed from the NBA draft, in a free agency, and we continue to play catch-up with everything that has happened. Given the nature of these reports, anyone can guess how long it will take for a move to be made or not. All we can do is what we have been doing since last October: wait and hope for the best.
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