The Detroit Pistons just shipped Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks. Stewart, who averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game coming off the bench last season, shooting 55% from the field, had two years and $30 million left on his deal. On paper, it looks like a straight salary dump, leading many to believe Detroit is gearing up for something much bigger.
By moving Stewart, the Pistons now have over $20 million in projected cap space. And according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, they’ve got their eyes on one prize, Kawhi Leonard.
“The Lakers were aware that this type of move (Stewart trade) was coming. It’s one of the reasons why they increased their offer to get (Austin) Reaves done, and now there are other potential targets out there. They were attached to Tyler Herro. You know, if Tyler Herro didn’t end up going to Milwaukee, he could have ended up in Detroit … Next up on the list that as a player to watch is Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers,” Windhorst said.
“He (Leonard) had one of the best years of his career … In a normal set of circumstances, a player of this quality coming off this type of season with one year on his contract, would be extended very quickly. However, I’m not even sure that the league will allow the Clippers to extend this contract because they’re investigating whether this contract is, in fact, illicit. I’m not even sure the league will allow them to trade Kawhi Leonard until there is a resolution to this investigation,” Windhorst added.
“But if he is cleared and everything is normal, the Clippers have the choice to extend his contract or trade him, and if they trade him, Detroit wants to be in line.”
In 65 games last season, Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP, averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 50.5% from the field. He’s about to turn 35 at the end of the month, and yet he’s still clearly a top-10 talent and playing some of the best basketball of his career right now.
But he’s also in the middle of a serious investigation.
The NBA launched an investigation after reports surfaced that Leonard signed a $28 million deal with a company called Aspiration, funded by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, allegedly for endorsement work he never did.
Aspirations co-founder has since pleaded guilty to defrauding multiple investors, and the investigation has dragged on for months. And it remains the biggest reason why any extension or trade can’t get done.
The league may not allow the Clippers to extend Kawhi’s contract, or even trade him, until a verdict is reached. But Windhorst just made it clear that if that moment comes, Detroit is positioning itself to be one of the favorites to land him.