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Spurs Rumors: Kawhi Leonard, Gregg Popovich to meet before NBA Draft

By Kendall Garriss

SAN ANTONIO,TX - DECEMBER 18 : Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs chats with head coach Gregg Popovich before the start of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at AT&T Center on December 18, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - DECEMBER 18 : Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs chats with head coach Gregg Popovich before the start of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at AT&T Center on December 18, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich will reportedly meet before the NBA Draft to settle the drama that has surrounded the San Antonio Spurs star.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday (h/t Pounding the Rock) that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and All-Star Kawhi Leonard are slated to meet sometime prior to the NBA Draft on June 21.

Woj says Gregg Popovich and Kawhi Leonard will sit down to talk between now and the 2018 NBA draft.

He says a lot of teams would love to get involved in trade talks for Kawhi but the Spurs are not entertaining offers right now. pic.twitter.com/cZW0SjLZNw

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) June 6, 2018

The hope among the Silver and Black contingent is that this will be the first step in the reconciliation process after a season-long saga of mystery, frustration, and dissension between the two parties.

The root of the issue stems back to a nagging quadriceps injury that limited Leonard to just nine games last season. Friction between the team and Leonard’s representation continued to fester after the former MVP candidate was shut down in January and ventured to New York to seek additional medical consultation.

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While rumors have been flying around about Leonard’s dissatisfaction with the franchise, his desire to play with other superstars and return home to California, this meeting can be a crucial turning point for the future of the franchise. The Spurs are interested in offering Leonard the “super-max” contract extension but not until both sides have the opportunity to vent their concerns and clear the air.

If the Spurs and Leonard are unable to come to an agreement then the team may have to make some franchise-altering decisions going forward, starting with the draft and leading into free agency on July 1. As of now, the Spurs are not entertaining any trade offers for Leonard, which could serve as an olive branch showing that the team is committed to rectifying the situation and making amends.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: After the lottery

While there is no guarantee of a resolution, the proposed meeting sounds like a promising step in the right direction after months of uncertainty. Coach Pop was able to talk LaMarcus Aldridge off the trade request ledge last summer and hopefully he can use his wealth of experience to find a way to re-connect with his star player and re-build that relationship. Regardless of the outcome, it appears this story could reach its climax within the coming weeks.

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