LeBron James may just be Gregg Popovich’s favorite player in the league. It could be this relationship that nudges the San Antonio Spurs to choose the Cleveland Cavaliers’ trade package for Kawhi Leonard over their competitors.
Could San Antonio Spurs star forward Kawhi Leonard have his trade destination influenced by reasons outside of basketball?
Over the years, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James have appeared as the most socially conscious and outspoken coach and player in the NBA. Their roles as inspirational leaders on and off-the-court creating a natural affinity between the two that only served to enhance their admiration of each other’s talents on the hardwood.
James considers Popovich to be the greatest coach of all-time and “one of [his] favorite guys ever” while Popovich would have this to say about their relationship (per cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor):
"“When you know somebody over time, the respect grows if the relationship is real,” Popovich said. “Obviously he’s a special guy.”"
Popovich would even make a favorable comparison of James to NBA legend Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest player of all-time, as recently as this February (per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin):
"“It’s good to be here to be able to watch LeBron,” Popovich said. “I just have to make sure that I don’t just stare at him all night like I did when I first came in the league and played the [Chicago] Bulls. I’d just watch Michael the whole time, and Larry Brown would elbow me like, ‘You going to do something?’ I said, ‘Coach, I’ve got to watch. I’ve got to see this guy.’ You get like that with LeBron, too, because he does so many things. And I hope he keeps speaking. I’m sure he will.”"
Perhaps this won’t mean anything in these negotiations but according to Boston Celtics’ general manager and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, personal relationships matter in NBA trades.
Per Bleacher Report’s Brian Robb:
"A personal relationship is not necessary or mandatory in any dealings, but I think it does help and increase the odds of making a deal, if there is a deal [to be made], sure."
Ainge was speaking about relationships between front office executives but in this instance there’s no team that will make a trade demand and have a player that Popovich likes and respects more. That could matter just as much in this specific scenario.
Furthermore, with him not expected to coach past the 2019-2020 season, there’s an even greater chance that he could help a player he respects and admirers like no other. An altruistic move that would be his last gift to the NBA before he retires.
Trading Leonard to Cleveland to be James’ second-in-command.
To understand the power Popovich has in this matter, aside from his title as president of basketball operations, when Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge wanted out of San Antonio last season he went to Popovich to make the demand.
Not Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.
Pop.
That said, when these negotiations go down, it would be in the Cavaliers’ best interest to let general manager Koby Altman do the talking rather than team owner Dan Gilbert.
This is for no other reason than that Altman will be more genuine in his desire to bring Leonard to Cleveland in an effort to convince James to stay; if the driving force in the trade talks is a mutual desire to help James win another championship, it’s far more likely that’s a conversation Popovich would have with Altman.
Gilbert, who is infamous for a letter he wrote in 2010 that was critical of James’ character and decision to sign with the Miami Heat, has long been said to be interested in building a team without James.
Related Story: Kawhi Leonard a real trade possibility for Cavs
In any case, there’s at least a reasonable chance that Popovich’s personal relationship with James will help the Cavs. When the Spurs are evaluating their trade package options, Cleveland will just have to hope that it gives them the edge.