A team chases history, as a player embarks on a new adventure...

Kawhi Leonard is no longer a Spur.

News broke this summer that Kawhi Leonard desired to take his NBA career into its next phase, contented by several championship runs in San Antonio and hungry for a new challenge. Startled, shocked, a bit hurt, the San Antonio Spurs organization honored the star forward's request. Another player on the fringe of that next step, Brandon Ingram, would be the parting gift by Leonard's commanding trade value.

A third-year player, Brandon Ingram has shown promise.

"There comes a time when every man sets his heart and his mind on a dream. For Kawhi, that's LA. Kawhi has helped this entire organization and its fanbase realize championship-level dreams, so it bequeaths us to oblige him on this next level of his basketball career. I'm sure as hell gonna miss him, though," Coach Gregg Popovich told reporters once the blockbuster deal was approved by the league.

Leonard & Popovich have shared great success together.

"Ingram has a lot of potential, and I'll do my part as his coach to help him realize it." The slim Duke star and now former Los Angeles Laker once told the media of his respect for Kawhi Leonard.

"The way he attacks is the model of how I should attack every game. Playing against him early in my career, it definitely woke me up. He's so aggressive, yet confident. Every night, he goes out and does everything--leaves it all on the court. He attacks the same way and looks so comfortable with every shot he takes."

Time will tell how much Ingram mirrors the game and now the legacy of arguably the best Spurs player in NBA history, but Ingram isn't coming alone on this next stage of his career. Floor-spacing big man Mike Muscala, formerly of the 76ers and Hawks, is coming to San Antonio along with defensive slasher, Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, in the deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In other moves, Iman Shumpert was brought back on a two-year, 13 million deal after his stellar play last post-season. He did a solid job handling both wing positions last season, so the Spurs are going to try and keep him primarily behind Ingram at the 3 slot, with Pope assuming the backup guard role behind gritty stalwart Avery Bradley. Dejounte Murray is still at the helm, with Patty Mills having embraced the role reversal and seeking to challenge for Sixth Man of the Year honors. Undersized but tough forward/center Kyle O'Quinn will also be returning on a two-year, 16 million deal. His play was inconsistent last season, but he turned on the fire in the playoffs, earning his way back to San Antone for one more two-fer.

Not returning is the veteran Spaniard, Pau Gasol, who saw his role reduced last season with the addition of Labissiere and acquisition of Joakim Noah. With a sixteen-million team option on the clock, the Spurs couldn't justify it based on further loss of usage with Muscala's arrival (also a big that can shoot, but with less years to account for) and Labissiere thriving behind Gay at the forward spot. "We thank Pau for his dedication and patience with us over these last few years, and we wish him all the best wherever his NBA journey goes from here," Spurs General Manager, RC Buford, said in the press release.