Kawhi Leonard Trade Rumors: Gregg Popovich Prefers Move to Teams in East

If the San Antonio Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard this summer, don't expect it to be a direct competitor.

Mark Heisler of the OC Register reported Gregg Popovich prefers any Leonard trade involves sending him to an Eastern Conference team. The report indicated the former All-NBA selection is available but not to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers, who are Leonard's favorite match in a potential deal, per Sean Deveney of Sporting News.

Heisler noted the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers are all potential matches.

Leonard, 26, was limited to nine games this season due to a quad injury and subsequent rehab. He originally suffered the injury during the 2017 playoffs and returned for a stretch in December and January before discomfort caused him to shut himself down.

Spurs team doctors have cleared him for months, but his own team of independent physicians have not. Leonard is currently rehabbing in New York and has been ruled out for the playoffs. The Spurs are currently down 3-0 to the Golden State Warriors in their first-round matchup.

"You'll have to ask Kawhi and his group that question," Popovich told reporters of Leonard's status before the team ruled him out for the playoffs. "So far, they say that he's not ready to go. So we can't do anything until that happens. Then, we would have to decide what's going on from there. But that's the first thing that has to happen."

Leonard, 26, averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the 2016-17 season. He was selected to the All-NBA first team, All-Defense first team and finished inside the top five of the MVP voting for the second consecutive year.

The tension between Leonard and the Spurs has led to speculation he's trying to force himself out of San Antonio, particularly to a starrier market. Leonard is about to be a shoe-free agent, and his talks with Jordan Brand faltered over what his team felt was a lackluster offer, per Michael C. Wright and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Joining a marketable team on the rise like Boston or Philadelphia or teaming with LeBron James in Cleveland (should he stay) would be a pretty quick way to up his price in the shoe game.