If the Philadelphia 76ers had any shot of acquiring Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs prior the latter’s trade of the forward to the Toronto Raptors, they will have to break up one of the best young duos in the league.
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Spurs were not impressed of a package including just Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and a draft pick from the Sixers. Instead, the Spurs insisted that they get either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid for them to cough up their control of Leonard.
Philadelphia's potential package of Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and the Heat's unprotected 2021 pick didn't move the needle. It's unclear if the Spurs had interest in Markelle Fultz; the two sides never discussed him seriously, and the Sixers would not have parted with him, sources say. The Spurs made it clear any deal with Philly would require Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid (likely Simmons), and the Sixers weren't going anywhere near that, league sources say.
Based on how good they have become and how quick their ascent to the higher echelons of the Eastern Conference once they managed to deploy Embiid and Simmons together for an entire season, the Sixers understandably wouldn’t mortgage a piece of their future for a player like Leonard. The perennial All-Star seems determined to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers next year.
Leonard has one more year left on his current contract, meaning he’ll be free to choose his next team in 2019.