Kawhi Leonard offer should force Spurs to change their mind

The San Antonio Spurs should trade for Kawhi Leonard.

That statement probably elicited an emotional response from longtime Spurs fans. Those responses could include anger, derision, revulsion or even panic. They are all natural, after Leonard drug the Spurs through a nightmare season before passive-aggressively forcing his way out. That's not how things are done in this franchise.

While many fans and probably longtime team employees would love to never contemplate a reunion with Leonard, the mercurial star is reportedly considering one himself. If the LA Clippers are not forthcoming with a new contract extension in the coming days, Leonard sounds like he will agitate his way out of town. His preference for his next destination? Reunions in either Toronto or San Antonio.

The Spurs need Kawhi Leonard

As much as that idea is shocking or enraging to Spurs fans, it is one that has to be considered. Leonard was an All-NBA player last season, scoring at career-best levels and impacting the game like a Top-5 player. Despite all of the injury concerns and his age (35), he is at the top of his game right now.

And the Spurs need him. They did not lose in the NBA Finals because of their defense, but rather because they could not get consistent shot creation when De'Aaron Fox fell short (nursing a high ankle sprain and against the league's best trio of perimeter defenders, to be fair). They also continued to play shooting guards at power forward, highlighting a weakness of the roster.

If the Spurs could draw up the perfect addition to their team this offseason, they likely would want a combo forward who can generate offense as the No. 1 option, is good defensively, and who is specifically great against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have described Kawhi Leonard.

Pros and cons to trading for Kawhi

There are certainly downsides to trading for Leonard. He turns 35 years old this week and has chronic lower leg injuries that limit him on an annual basis. He is not a leader on or off the court, preferring to be deployed as a two-way assassin who puts his head down and goes to work. Championship teams usually need more leadership from their stars.

There is also, of course, the way that Leonard sulked his way out of San Antonio the first time, forcing the Spurs' hand to get a trade out of town. Those wounds are likely still present for many in the organization.

Even with those problems, this is a trade the Spurs should absolutely make, unless the cost is truly astronomical. Victor Wembanyama is a phenomenal player on a rookie-scale contract for one more season; Stephon Castle has two and Dylan Harper has three low-cost years remaining. That would fit perfectly with three years of Kawhi Leonard making $50 million a year before moving on.

Can the Spurs pull this off?

The kicker is that the Spurs would need to convince the Clippers to take back De'Aaron Fox, whose long-term contract is so exorbitant that it may not be possible. The work that San Antonio would most need to do is finding a third team to take Fox, be that the Chicago Bulls, the Toronto Raptors or another suitor.

There are risks involved. There is a downside. There is also great upside, and the combination of Wembanyama and Kawhi is a basketball match made in heaven. A starting lineup of Harper, Castle, Devin Vassell, Leonard and Victor Wembanyama is basketball nirvana and would instantly be the favorite to win the championship if everyone stays healthy.

Can the Spurs stomach the risk? Can fans stomach a reunion? Kawhi extended an olive branch by offering to re-sign in San Antonio. Will the Spurs be ready to take the plunge?

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