Los Angeles Lakers now have the King LeBron James. But, it’s no secret that about a week ago, the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers are engaged in trade rumors for the star Kawhi Leonard.
As we read from Complex, if the Lakers made this dealt hey’d essentially be left with Lonzo Ball, LeBron James, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the players they acquired this offseason – Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, and JaVale McGee. If you add Kawhi to that mix, it’s a decent squad – but certainly not one that’s going to challenge the best of the best.
LeBron James has agreed to join the Lakers and Leonard might be opening up his options. Yahoo Sports reports that Leonard is far from a lock to join the Lakers as a free agent in 2019, and that he isn’t necessarily interested in joining a team with LeBron. He might be more open to playing with the Clippers, or even the Philadelphia 76ers.
“One thing that’s been made abundantly clear. I’m going to stress this: There’s no guarantee if Kawhi Leonard hits the market next summer he’s going to sign with the Lakers, period,” Charania said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, via RealGM. “I think his options have broadened a little bit. There’s another team obviously in L.A. I think he’d be very much open to the Clippers.
“There’s a belief around the league that if the Sixers came hard, there could be potential there for him to potentially be there in the long-term.
“Around Kawhi, it’s been made abundantly clear there’s not an interest to go join a superteam. I don’t think he’s jumping for joy that LeBron James is in L.A. with the Lakers. If anything, that’s going to make him look, maybe more, toward the Clippers because this is a guy that won Finals MVP against LeBron James. You think he’s amped up and wants to join LeBron now? I think that’s been overstated.”
Teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia Sixers could represent better situations for Kawhi Leonard. Most of the top free agents have signed, but the trade rumors about Kawhi Leonard situation is the most fascinating storyline of the NBA offseason.
NBA salary cap expert @LarryCoon was on tonight’s show to break down the #Lakers‘ cap space flexibility following today’s moves. pic.twitter.com/GTB1fYdQrk
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) July 3, 2018
