admin / July 3, 2018
Kawhi Leonard San Antonio Spurs v Mavericks 13122017
The 76ers are still interested in trading for disgruntled Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard signed a five-year contract, worth more than $90 million, with the Spurs in 2015. But he appeared in just nine games for San Antonio in 2017-18 because of an injured right quad. He reportedly had a tense relationship with the team throughout his rehab process.
Leonard wants to be traded out of San Antonio, according to multiple reports. The Spurs are hoping to send him to an Eastern Conference team if they do decide to trade him, according to a report from USA Today earlier this week.
It’s not a big-guy league anymore, and DeAndre Jordan is pretty much just a shot blocker. You really can’t throw the ball to him in the post and have him get you big numbers every night. Plus the guys he’s going to be playing against are going to be shooting jumpers.
ESPN reported Thursday that the Mavericks have made Jordan their primary target as free agency nears, but he has to decide whether he will opt into the final year of his contract with the Clippers by 11:59 p.m. ET Friday. It’s possible he could pick up his $24.1 million player option for the 2018-19 season in an effort to facilitate a trade.
Free agency has always been enigmatic. Guys are going to make decisions that are best for them and their family. I just hope that they keep the competitive spirit, O’Neal added.
Cousins, a four-time All-Star, could meet with the Pelicans and Lakers on Sunday, but it is uncertain if such meetings would take place in person or over the phone. Cousins is currently in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
A first-time unrestricted free agent, Cousins might be a stronger target for the LeBron James-seeking Lakers after free-agent guard Paul George decided to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and a 35.4 percent 3-point shooting average last season in 48 games with the Pelicans. The two-time all-NBA selection, however, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on Jan. 26 against the Houston Rockets. Cousins has been rehabilitating primarily in his offseason home of Las Vegas and has previously told The Undefeated that he could be ready by the start of training camp.
I’m looking forward to starting the season, Cousins said. That’s my own personal goal, so we’ll see what happens. That’s what I’m working on. The doctors haven’t really given me an answer because of the time I injured myself and the amount of time that I have.
It’s basically open field because I have so much time. But for me, I’m shooting to be ready for training camp.