So far, we know there’s a chance Kawhi Leonard could be traded. The idea of it happening is slowly building, and a question interested suitors have to answer before going through with a blockbuster deal is: will Kawhi Leonard sign an extension to wherever he is moved? Only two teams can say yes to that, as of now, and they are the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors.
More organizations could certainly crack the cut over the next few weeks, but per ‘The Stein Line’, the Detroit Pistons are essentially out of the picture; Leonard is reportedly not in tune with signing an extension to continue his career for one of three teams in the NBA that won 60 games this past season, if the Clippers traded him there.
That’s a bit unfortunate for LA, because the Pistons have assets Lawrence Frank would like.
Detroit is a good situation for Kawhi, but he isn’t familiar with it
Kawhi Leonard's refusal to be traded to the Detroit Pistons has nothing to do with them. They have a handful of appealing characteristics, such as a winning culture, a cooperative head coach, some of the best role players in the league, and a passionate city that is extremely supportive.
On top of all of that, Detroit rosters one of the top faces of the NBA: Cade Cunningham. Playing alongside him is the biggest form of advertisement the Pistons can use, as he is young and built from the rare breed that shows up when the lights are brightest, particularly in the playoffs.
In fact, Cunningham, alone, is more than enough to lure any realistic trade target, star or not, on the market.
But with Leonard, things are a bit different. Due to the fact that the only teams on his preferred destinations list are the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors, it’s clear as day that he wants to go somewhere where he has a good idea of the system, front office, and organization as a whole.
This is understandable, as being familiar makes the transition easier, and much more, behind the scenes.
It’s also a plus for the Spurs and Raptors that they are both trending in the right direction as a franchise, which adds to the appeal for Leonard.
That said, although the Pistons are in desperate need of an established superstar presence alongside Cunningham, we can go ahead and eliminate Leonard from their options that actually make sense.
Add us as a preferred source on Google