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Kawhi Leonard: Boston Celtics won’t trade top-5 players for Spurs star

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stands during player introductions prior to Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriorsc at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stands during player introductions prior to Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriorsc at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Kawhi Leonard to Boston Celtics rumors just won’t die.  New reports have surfaced that the team is unwilling to trade top-five players for disgruntled star. 

If Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics pull off another blockbuster deal this summer, it won’t involve any of the team’s top-five players.

In a recent report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowki, the Celtics have taken their top-five players off the table in any trade discussions with the San Antonio Spurs involving disgruntled superstar Kawhi Leonard.

"“Boston’s really got their top-five players off limits,” Wojnarowski reported on ESPN’s SportsCenter.  “Boston is more willing to do a deal that’s pick-heavy.  The Spurs want good players back.  They don’t want to rebuild.  They want picks and they want guys who can help them stay in the playoffs.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"

The reason why the Celtics are ideally a good trading partner for the Spurs is because of the young players they have and the abundance of future draft picks in Ainge’s prize chest.  With those top-five players being Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and Jaylen Brown, it would seem highly unlikely that a deal would get done.

First, for the Celtics, the money would have to work.  Therefore, Ainge would have to part with either Irving, Hayward or Horford to take on Leonard’s contract.  Secondly, it wouldn’t seem logical for the Spurs to settle for players like Terry Rozier and/or Marcus Morris as players that would help them stay in the playoff hunt.

The draft picks would be enticing, but one would think Ainge would have to give in and at least include Jaylen Brown in the package.  With Leonard pretty much holding the Spurs handcuffed, the Spurs could settle for something, rather than getting nothing if Leonard walks in free agency following the 2018-18 season.

That is where the Celtics could land the star on a favorable deal in which they do keep their top-five players.  The challenge thereafter would be making the money work.  If anyone could make that happen, it would be Danny Ainge.  That may involve a player like Horford restructuring his max deal.

Boston not on Leonard’s mind.

 

One of the reasons the Boston Celtics are hesitant in any deal for Kawhi Leonard is his desire to play in Los Angeles.    According to Yahoo NBA Insider Shams Charania, he also has no desire to play for a super team, which suddenly takes the Celtics off his radar.

"“Around Kawhi, it’s been made abundantly clear there’s not an interest to go join a superteam,” Charania reported via RealGM.com.  “I don’t think he’s jumping for joy that LeBron Jams is in L.A. with the Lakers.  If anything, that’s going to make him look, maybe more, toward the Clippers because this is a guy that won Finals MVP against LeBron James.  You think he’s amped up and want to join LeBron now?  I think that’s been overstated.”"

If what Charania is reporting is true, the Clippers would make the most sense.  The Celtics would have stars (although the only super star is Kyrie Irving), that would somewhat make them a super team. The same would hold true for the Philadelphia 76ers, another team rumored to be involved in a Kawhi Leonard deal.

Next: Boston Celtics: 3 reasons Aron Baynes return is huge for C’s

Of course, with all these rumors out there, something unexpected can and probably will happen.  If it involves the Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge could be up to just about anything.

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