The NBA offseason has already seen multiple superstars changing teams, and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard looks increasingly likely to join that list. The controversies surrounding the former Toronto Raptors star, along with stalled negotiations as he enters the final guaranteed year of his contract means that multiple teams have expressed interest.
And while ESPN’s Brian Windhorst floated the Detroit Pistons as a possible destination for Leonard during the NBA Draft, The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer recently claimed that Leonard has no interest in committing long-term to Detroit. The speculation began after Detroit continued reshaping its payroll by trading Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks during the second round of the NBA Draft.
The move further increased the Pistons’ cap flexibility, leaving them with significant salary room and multiple trade exceptions as they search for another elite player to pair alongside Cade Cunningham. Windhorst suggested Detroit could use that flexibility to “go big-game hunting,” specifically mentioning Leonard and even LeBron James as stars worth checking on.
Detroit’s financial position is undeniably stronger than it was entering the offseason, but the biggest issue surrounding Leonard is not salary or trade compensation. Sources indicate that Leonard would not sign a contract extension with the Pistons if they acquired him this summer, and has a similar stance for the Miami Heat despite the possibility of joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. That effectively turns any Leonard acquisition into a one-season rental, significantly increasing the risk for any team considering surrendering meaningful assets.
The Pistons are coming off a breakthrough 60-22 campaign that earned them the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed before they rallied from a 3-1 first-round deficit against Orlando and eventually lost a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series to Cleveland. While a big name can quickly transform them into title contenders, Detroit can expect considerable obstacles if they go for either James or Leonard.
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