Both parties apparently left Kawhi Leonard's trade, but San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich used a question on Wednesday to offer a surprising assessment of Leonard's leadership abilities.

Popovich was asked about the importance of Patty Mills' leadership instead of Leonard's job and about the departure of longtime stars Tony Parker (independent agency) and Manu Ginobili (retired).

The takeover of Popovich during Leonard's last tumultuous season in San Antonio was not at all flattering.

"Kawhi was an excellent player, but he was not a leader or anything," Popovich said. "Manu and Patty were the leaders, Kawhi's talent will always be missed, but that leadership was not his job at the time." It may come as he progresses, but Manu and Patty have played that role last year, and LaMarcus (Aldridge) has come a long way in this regard too. "

Leonard played only nine games with the Spurs last season while he was injured in the quadriceps. His relationship with the team deteriorated when the parties objected to various factors in Leonard's recovery and the grievances were publicly expressed.

The situation has reached its peak and the defensive player of the year twice has requested an exchange during the summer. Leonard was sent to the Toronto Raptors with Danny Green on a successful contract for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick.

Leonard declined to go into details about the end of his stay in San Antonio.

"I have no regrets," he said at his preliminary press conference in September. "But I want to focus on this team, on this trip that we have before us today, and just stay in the present time without looking back."

Popovich may not be impressed by his leadership, but the coach defended Leonard this summer against suggestions that he was not a good teammate.

"All this is ridiculous," Popovich said in July, a day after the deal. "Kawhi has been an excellent teammate all along the way, he did his job and he was not a problem for anyone. (…) All the stories that have denigrated him in this regard were regrettable and inaccurate. "

Leonard seems to be back on top form as one of the two-way NBA stars. He scores on average 24.4 points per game with 48.1% points scored, with 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 interceptions, while the Raptors have the best record in the league at 16- 4.

The Spurs are 9-10 years old and are in the middle of a very dense Western conference. Leonard is expected to return to San Antonio during the Raptors' visit on January 3rd.

Follow Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.