Toronto Raptors star small forward Kawhi Leonard will not suit up for the team’s game tonight against the Indiana Pacers. Doug Smith reports that the reason for Leoanrd’s absence is what the team has termed as “load management.” Smith adds this is code for “rest” and that point guard Kyle Lowry is listed as “questionable.”
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Earlier today, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that Toronto Raptors small forward Kawhi Leonard reached an agreement with New Balance on a multiyear endorsement deal. Leonard turned down a 4-year, $22 million dollar extension with Jordan Brand earlier this year. That deal expired this year which made him a sneaker free agent. Kawhi will serve as the face of New Balance basketball, as like brands Converse and Puma, are looking to re-establish a presence in the performance basketball space. Terms of the deal with Leonard were not immediately released. …
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It looks like when the NBA season begins anew in October, the name across the front of the jersey will not be the only thing different he will be wearing. That is because Leonard and Jordan Brand will part ways after his contract expires later this year. ESPN’s Nick Depaula reports that the brand is “going to let Leonard walk when his contract expires later this year.” Extension talks between Leonard and Jordan Brand hit an impasse when Leonard rejected a four year, $22 million extension. The rejected deal apparently…
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With a little less than 500 players across its 30 teams, the NBA is a very small community. News travels fast around the league and even moreso in the age of social media. So when news of the DeMar DeRozan-Kawhi Leonard deal broke, many players took to social media to express their sentiments. Here is what the man, DeMar DeRozan,himself had to say: DeMar reacts to being traded pic.twitter.com/TGDMfS7tcN — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2018 Smh cold game — Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 18, 2018 No matter what…When I…
Read MoreThe ever-evolving saga of Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs may have a yet a new and unexpected turn. Now there appears to be a new contestant in the Quest for Kawhi- surprisingly the Toronto Raptors. Reporting from the Washington Post’s Tim Bontemps indicated that the Raptors have emerged as a potential trade landing spot for Leonard. From Bontemps; The Toronto Raptors also generated buzz as a potential destination for Leonard. With LeBron James out of the Eastern Conference, perhaps Raptors President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri is willing to swing…
Read MoreIn true Spurs fashion, don’t expect a rash decision to conclude the Kawhi Leonard situation. Woj doesn't think a Kawhi Leonard trade will happen before the 2018 NBA draft. "I don't think the Spurs are in any rush to make a decision about Leonard's future, certainly on the trade front" pic.twitter.com/TTMllBJqCz — Rob Lopez (@r0bato) June 18, 2018 According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s unlikely the Spurs would make move before draft day. Quite simply, it would be foolhardy for the Spurs to jump the gun and pull the trigger…
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When a team has an all-world player that may be available, it is to be expected the GM of said team’s phone would be quite the hotline. That is exactly the position the San Antonio Spurs find themselves in. Kawhi Leonard has reportedly asked for a trade, preferring to land in Lakerland. The calls have undoubtedly began to come in for R.C. Buford and the Spurs brass and according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers were one of several teams that have already reached out regrading Mr. Leonard. Cleveland…
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Throughout the nearly two decade of the success the Spurs have enjoyed, by and large , their fans have conducted themselves respectfully. The fan base has not drawn the ire that Lakers, Heat, and now Warrior “fans” have for their obnoxiousness during those teams runs. The Kawhi Leonard situation puts both the organization and the fans in the unusual position of a player actually wanting to leave their ballclub. It is natural to not want to lose a player of his caliber and fans certainly have that right to voice…
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You may want to slow down the Kawhi to the Lakers talk. That is because apparently if the Spurs decide to move their star forward, it will not be to a Western Conference team. A report from NBA writer Chris Sheridan indicated that San Antonio has no intent of trading him within the West. News of Leonard’s desire to leave San Antonio surfaced on Friday via Yahoo Sports’ Charms Charania. Kawhi Leonard wants out from the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2018…
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Kawhi Leonard and Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich were anticipated to meet before this year’s NBA draft to try to iron out the issues that have been simmering nearly all season long and have brought his future with the franchise into question. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reported that Leonard and Popovich have recently communicated but , as of yet, a face-to-face encounter has not happened. This meeting between the two may still happen but considering Kawhi’s request, it could be an exercise in futility.
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