Why Kawhi Leonard Deserves a Max Contract from the San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard became the third youngest NBA Finals MVP in league history this past June, behind only Magic Johnson, who twice earned the award at a younger age than Leonard.
This alone would make one think he is deserving of a max contract, I mean Gordon Hayward received one. But such a lucrative gesture has little precedent in San Antonio; only the immortal Tim Duncan has received the max from the Spurs.
Neither Manu Ginobili nor Tony Parker ever got a max contract, and even Duncan had to wait until 2003, after he had made the All-Star team five times, won two championships and Finals MVP awards, as well as back-to-back league MVP awards.
So why does Leonard deserve a max contract?
Part of the reason is the change in how and when these contracts are given. Part of it is Leonard's play.
The Nature of the Max Contract in the NBA
Max contracts have become speculative and much more relative. It used to be that a player would get a max contract in the prime of his career after enjoying all-star-level play for at least a few seasons.
Now, a player is given a max contract if he shows enough during the years of his rookie-scale deal to make a team believe he will be a max player in the next few seasons. It's now speculative for all but the most insanely good rookie-scale players (see Durant, Kevin or James, LeBron).
This is due, in large part, to the fact that teams don't want to give that much money to a player already in his prime, because he may not be worth the money by the time he gets to the end of the contract.
Teams are choosing to overpay early in a player's career rather than risk paying them ridiculous amounts as they decline (see Stoudemire, Amare or Johnson, Joe).
So when considering giving a player like Leonard a max contract, teams now must ask the questions, "Will he be worth this contract in the next 1-2 years?" "Will he be entering his prime this season or next?"
I believe the answer to both of those questions is "yes."
Has Kawhi Leonard Proven He Will Reach His Ceiling?
As research by Bleacher Report Lead NBA Writer Jonathan Wasserman has shown, a wing player must show improvement and breakout by his third season or else it won't happen:
"Since 2003, there have been 21 natural small forwards taken in the lottery. The good ones, like Luol Deng, Paul George, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant and Gordon Hayward, all showed legitimate gradual progress from their first to third years.
Of those 21 small forwards drafted, none of them had breakout fourth years in the league. It either happened by then or it didn't. For those who showed little-to-no improvement following their first three seasons, it was pretty clear they weren't coming close to reaching their NBA ceilings.
"
Leonard has shown this improvement and then some. Very few players can see an increase in usage and efficiency during his first three seasons. Usually players become slightly less efficient as they are asked to do more.
But Leonard didn't; he progressed and became more efficient. This past season Leonard improved his efficiency once again, upping his field-goal percentage to 52 percent while also taking a career high 9.8 shots per game.
Leonard improved in every category, from scoring to rebounding to assists. But it's not just the improvement and ceiling the Spurs are investing in, but the versatility of the player.
Tough Finisher, Strong Post Game
The Leonard's transition game and ability to finish strong around the rim were already known commodities when the Spurs took him in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft.
But somehow he has gotten better at those facets.
Leonard's extremely large hands give him an advantage as a scorer. According to DraftExpress.com, the forward's hands measured 11.25 inches wide and 9.75 inches long.
In the current NBA, only Noah Vonleh can match that size, and he's two inches taller and far less skilled.
Leonard is one of those fearless finishers who will challenge anyone, even some of the league's best interior defenders.
One of the areas in which Leonard has shown improvement is his post game. He now looks to get to a spot and post up when guarded by smaller players, knowing that he will draw a foul or get an easy look.
Ball-Handling, Passing
Leonard has improved marvelously as a ball-handler since coming into the league, a fact that has made his dangerous finishing and transition skills more potent.
Most scouting reports on the former San Diego State forward listed ball-handling as one of his glaring weaknesses. Leonard seemed to recognize this and worked to improve in that area.
Being able to create his own shot off the dribble has only strengthened his ability to score and get to the hoop.
While assists are not the end all be all of passing statistics, Leonard nonetheless has improved his assist numbers each season. This likely has as much to do with his improved passing skills as his ability to draw secondary defenders off the dribble before locating the open man.
Shooting
The biggest improvement in Leonard's game has been his outside shooting. As pointed out by Michael Erler of PoundingTheRock.com, Leonard improved his shot during the summer following hi draft "without the aid or prodding from coaches who were forbidden from contacting him during the lockout before his rookie season."
Leonard spent his time during the lockout working on the one obstacle that stood between Leonard and a permanent home on the wing. And he benefited immediately, shooting 37.6 percent from three-point range over his first three seasons.
The improved ball-handling, combined with this improved shooting stroke, has expanded Leonard's game on offense in ways that scouts likely never imagined for him. This offensive versatility has made Leonard an offensive Swiss Army Knife.
Tough Defender, Thief
Leonard is an athletic defender who has been able to guard multiple positions from the second he stepped onto an NBA court.
But Leonard has developed into the kind of defender who matches up with the opposing team's best scorer, night in and night out. And he really makes an impact on the defensive end of the court.
He matched up with LeBron James in the finals and was the only defender capable of slowing down the NBA's best player.
As a matter of fact, in Game 3, according to ESPN Statistician John McTigue, James was guarded by Leonard on 65 percent of Miami's offensive possessions, during which he limited LeBron to 14 shot attempts despite a series-high 73 offensive touches.
Leonard would have the fourth-highest career steal percentage of any active player, but his three seasons don't qualify him for enough games to make the official career ranking.
In addition to facing the best wing player, Leonard can guard positions 1 through 4 if need be. He possesses elite quickness and athleticism for his size.
Blocks
Leonard is an above-average shot-blocker, who can block from either the weak side or as the primary on-ball defender. The 6'7'' forward excels at using his great lateral quickness and length to stay with and block shots of smaller players.
The Skinny
The San Antonio Spurs need a new face, with Duncan close to the end of his career, and who better to replace him than another quiet, understated leader?
Leonard has been a professional since that first summer when he took it upon himself to improve his perimeter skills.
He possesses elite versatility for a perimeter player; he's a rare talent as a defender and transition player.
The current max contract landscape has made it necessary to pay players earlier, and the Spurs will surely regret watching Leonard blossom elsewhere if they don't choose to do whatever it takes to re-sign their talented new face of the franchise.
All advanced statistics and salary stats from basketball-reference.com
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