Kawhi Leonard Contract: Latest News and Rumors on Negotiations with Spurs

With a Halloween deadline fast approaching, the San Antonio Spurs and forward Kawhi Leonard have reached a stalemate in long-term extension talks. 

A report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports indicated that Leonard's representatives have not moved off their desire for a max-level contract.  The Spurs could offer Leonard a five-year maximum contract that could approach $90 million, depending on how high the NBA salary cap reaches in 2015-16. Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk indicated a rough estimate of Leonard's contract would top out right around $91 million.

On Friday, Oct. 31, ESPN's Marc Stein reported the latest on talks between the Spurs and Leonard:

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There is a strong likelihood that Friday's midnight deadline for contract extensions for first-round picks from the Class of 2011 will pass without a new deal for reigning NBA Finals MVPKawhi Leonard, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com this week that Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs, despite more serious discussions between the parties in advance of the Halloween buzzer, are unlikely to come to terms during this extension window, setting up the 23-year-old to become a restricted free agent in July.

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Leonard, 23, averaged 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor. A raw project with a flawed jumper coming out of San Diego State, Leonard has developed into one of the NBA's most promising young wings. He averaged 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while going toe-to-toe with LeBron James en route to winning the 2014 Finals MVP in June.

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“He's special because he can bring it at both ends of the court,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “It's going to be about consistency more than trying to teach him a new move and say, 'Start doing this because Larry (Bird) did it.'

While the Spurs view Leonard as a building block for their next core, they could shrewdly use the collective bargaining agreement to their advantage. If they're unable to find an amenable middle ground, San Antonio can allow Leonard to hit restricted free agency next summer.

Although he will be eligible to meet with other teams, the Spurs will own matching rights to any offer sheet. The restricted free agency route also gives the team an advantage in terms of annual raises. A non-incumbent can only offer Leonard 4.5-percent raises per season, while the Spurs can offer 7.5 percent under the CBA.

The Spurs and Leonard have only until Friday at midnight to carve out an agreement. It'll be interesting to see how contentious things get as San Antonio prepares to begin its repeat bid Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

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