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Spurs Rumors: Sixers are only East team Kawhi Leonard may re-sign with

By Rob Wolkenbrod

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 8: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on February 8, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Spurs defeated the 76ers 111-103. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 8: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on February 8, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Spurs defeated the 76ers 111-103. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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If the San Antonio Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard to the Philadelphia 76ers, they are the only Eastern Conference team he would re-sign with.

It’s July 9 and Kawhi Leonard remains on the trade block for the San Antonio Spurs, and it’s almost one month since the initial desire to leave the team went public in a report. Both Los Angeles teams and the Boston Celtics have received the most mentions for a Leonard deal, but nothing seems imminent.

There’s also the Philadelphia 76ers, who have Markelle Fultz, Dario Saric, Robert Covington and future first-round picks at their disposal. The question is who the Sixers would be willing to move from that group?

Any team that takes Leonard does not have the guarantee that he will stay past the 2018-19 season, given the player option that sits for the 2019-20 campaign. When he inevitably opts out and seeks a massive contract, it opens him to all teams, not just the one that makes the trade. While Los Angeles always appeared to be the former NBA MVP’s leader in the clubhouse, it seems he will at least consider re-signing with the Sixers if they trade for him, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes on The Jump, via Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders.

However, Philadelphia would be the only Eastern Conference team that Leonard would re-sign with. So no Celtics, Toronto Raptors or any other NBA team from this part of the United States.

.@ChrisBHaynes on the jump right now:

“Sixers are the only Eastern Conference team (Kawhi) will consider signing with … Philly has a really, really good chance.”

— Dennis Chambers (@DennisChambers_) July 6, 2018

If so, that continues to limit the Spurs on potential suitors. Only a handful of teams appeared to be legitimate contenders for Leonard, so that may even take the Celtics out of the mix, pending they were actually in range with the Silver and Black.

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Will San Antonio move Leonard before the start of the season? At this point, it’s a situation that may drag into the middle of the summer and into the remaining weeks before the 2018-19 season starts. Do the Sixers stick around until the end of the process?

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