Boston Celtics: All-time starting lineup of almost acquired stars

Forward — Kawhi Leonard

Back in 2017-18, the San Antonio Spurs were in the midst of quite the dilemma. Just two years after inking a five-year max contract with the storied franchise, Kawhi Leonard seemed determined to make his way out of San Antonio.

Forced out for the remainder of the 2017 Western Conference Finals after re-aggravating his ankle, the, then, two-time All-Star spent a majority of the 2017-18 season watching from the sidelines.

Leonard suited up for just nine games that season, officially reported as rehabilitation. After missing the first 27 games due to his ankle injury the forward missed time periodically and often due to numerous other ailments including a strained left shoulder and right quadricep tendinopathy.

Reports of rifts between the Spurs’ medical staff as well as teammates pertaining to questions of legitimacy of his injuries began to break into the media, giving the world a sense that the relationship between the 2014 Finals MVP and the organization may be crumbling to an end.

That summer, the rumor-mil was spinning in regard to which franchises might inquire about the availability of the former Defensive Player of the Year. Of course, as they often are, the Boston Celtics found their way into the conversation.

That June, Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a report that stated the C’s could be interested in Leonard if ever made available by San Antonio.

Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report elaborated on the idea further, suggested that Boston would provide the best offer for the All-Star of any other team in the association:

"The Celtics have a ton of intriguing pieces to offer in a potential trade for Leonard, including Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, assuming they want to keep Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum. Boston also owns the No. 27 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and it will likely land the Sacramento Kings’ first-round pick in 2019 unless it is No. 1 overall. Perhaps no team in the NBA has more ammunition for a Leonard trade than the C’s."

The idea of Leonard being dealt to the Celtics that summer was so palpable that even Dwyane Wade reportedly believed the odds were in Boston’s favor to land the talented forward.

However, as we now all know, the shamrocks never managed to pull the trigger on any trade for the disgruntled star. Kawhi Leonard instead wound up being traded to the Toronto Raptors in a deal centered around All-Star DeMar DeRozan.

In turn the, then, 27-year-old went on to guide the franchise to their first ever NBA Championship as well as obtain his second Finals MVP. Now, he holds the position of the number one option on a heavy title favorite the Los Angeles Clippers and is viewed as one of the league’s premier superstars.

We are by no means upset that the Boston Celtics didn’t land Leonard, for it would have cost numerous player from their very productive core that finds themselves in a position, themselves, to compete for the Larry O’brien Trophy this season — if it ever resumes.

However, it’s still fun to ponder on the idea of “what could have been” from time to time.