Gregg Popovich dismissed the suggestion from a local reporter that the Spurs are currently experiencing a "soap opera" due to reports of Kawhi Leonard's frustrations with the franchise.

Multiple league sources described Leonard and his representatives as being "distant" and "disconnected" from the Spurs.

"I don't even know why you say it's a soap opera," Popovich said. "Some people wrote some articles. I understand it, but soap opera? It's a soap opera if we talk about it every day, I guess. I don't get it. We won't talk about it. There's nothing to talk about other than what we've already said.

"The rehab is going slower than we expected. We wish it were going more quickly. If we're going to err, as we have in the past, we're going to do it on the conservative side. We kept Timmy Duncan out of the playoffs one year because of a knee, and he could have played. So I don't see this as anything different than we've done with any other player. But some people for some reason want to do that. That's OK. But that doesn't affect my team or me or anybody else."

Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs have developed a strained relationship over the past few months and may even want a trade.

"Kawhi Leonard wants out of San Antonio is what I'm hearing," said Jalen Rose on First Take. "The reason why is twofold. One is they've been unable to attract elite level, All-NBA caliber free agents to come play with him. Think about this: the reason why, in my opinion, we always talk about players joining large market teams. We never say who's going to San Antonio to play with Kawhi.

"Here is why I think players have not done that. The Spurs' way looks like opportunity dressed in overalls. It looks like work and people really don't want that.

"When you go to San Antonio, guess who is the CEO of that organization? Gregg Popovich. It's going to be his way.

"So for Kawhi and also the way his injury situation was handled. You see him in the lineup, you see him out of the lineup. Is it his quad? What's going on with his history? Was he misdiagnosed?

Kawhi Leonard's relationship with the Spurs' front office and coaching staff has undergone months of discord, according to multiple sources.

Leonard is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation on his right quadriceps injury.

Sources describe Leonard and his camp as "distant" and "disconnected" from the organization. Beyond the current rehab, there are issues that need to be discussed to repaired between Leonard and the Spurs.

RC Buford rejected the notion that there are issues between Leonard and the Spurs.

"There is no issue between the Spurs organization and Kawhi," Buford said. "From Day 1 all parties have worked together to find the best solutions to his injury."

Leonard has played in just nine games this season.

The San Antonio Spurs have moved Tony Parker to the bench with Dejounte Murray taking his spot at point guard in the starting lineup.

Parker hadn't come off the bench for a game since the 2010 playoffs against Dallas.

"I was like, 'Oh, no problem,'" an upbeat Parker said of his reaction to Gregg Popovich's decision. "Just like Manu [Ginobili], just like Pau [Gasol], that day's going to come. And if Pop sees something that is good for the team, I'll try to do my best. I support Pop's decision, and I'll try to help [Dejounte Murray] out as best I can, and try to be the best I can in that second unit with Manu [Ginobili] and Patty [Mills]."

Parker came back from torn quadriceps this season.

Parker admitted to "hitting a wall" recently, saying "I'm just more focused on my leg because I know I [still] have another two months before I feel 100 percent."

Murray was the 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely as he continues his rehabilitation from right quadriceps tendinopathy.

Leonard suffered the injury during training camp and didn't make his season debut until December 12th.

Leonard is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.3 minutes over just nine games this season.

"Kawhi has made significant progress and continues to move forward in his rehabilitation," RC Buford said. "This is the best approach for the next steps in his return to play."

Gregg Popovich confirmed LaMarcus Aldridge asked to be traded by the San Antonio Spurs last offseason.

While the Spurs shopped Aldridge, he ultimately signed an extension worth $72 million over three years.

Popovich and Aldridge had a candid conversation that led to Aldridge's request and a better understanding of the situation.

"When he said, 'I want to be traded,'" said Popovich when asked what helped bring about Aldridge's resurgent season.

"It's as simple as that," Popovich said. "I said, 'Whoa, nobody's ever said that to me before.' It's my 20-whatever year, and nobody's ever said that like, 'I'm not enjoying this. I'm not confident. I'm not sure you want me here. I want to be traded.'"

During training camp, Aldridge told ESPN that in a meeting over the summer with Popovich he "just spilled my heart about how I felt about how things were, and how things had been going."

Popovich tried find some levity during the meeting.

"So, we had some dinners and meetings and laughed," Popovich said. "I was very candid with him. I told him, 'I'd be happy to trade you. You get me a talent like Kevin Durant, and I'll drive you to the airport. I'll pack your bags. And I will drive you there, get you on the plane, and get you seated.' He laughed you know, that kind of thing. I said, 'But short of that, I'm your best buddy because you're here for another year, and you ain't going nowhere. Because we're not gonna get for you talentwise what we would want. So, let's figure this thing out.' And we did. That's what we came to."

Popovich realized he also played a role some of Aldridge's struggles.

"As discussions went on, it became apparent to me that it really was me," Popovich said. "He'd been playing in the league for nine years. I'm not going to turn him into some other player. I could do some things defensively or reboundingwise. But on offense, I was going to move him everywhere. That was just silly on my part -- total overcoaching. So, we took care of it, and he's been fantastic."

Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a "partial tear" in his left shoulder.

Leonard was ruled out of Sunday night's game at Portland, and the Spurs plan to evaluate Leonard over the next couple of days of its current road trip.

"I don't think it will be a while," Gregg Popovich said.

The latest setback represents yet another roadblock for Leonard in his return, as he missed the first 27 games of the season rehabilitating from quadriceps tendinopathy. 

When Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cavaliers, he mentioned the Knicks, Wolves and Spurs as teams he would like to be moved to.

Irving was ultimately traded to the Celtics, but the Spurs were one of the teams active in trying to acquire him.

"San Antonio tried really really hard to get him," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Spurs' main trade chips in the offseason were LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green.

San Antonio already had re-signed Patty Mills by that point in the offseason while Tony Parker was rehabbing his injury from the playoffs.