The Clippers apparently aren’t the only L.A. team considering pursuing a trade for Kawhi Leonard during the coming offseason. According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, front-office sources around the NBA believe that the Lakers will also make Leonard a top target over the summer.
Leonard remains under contract with the Spurs for at least one more season, but a season-long saga has seemingly created friction between the two sides, as Spurs doctors and Leonard’s doctors have disagreed on the status of the forward’s quad injury. While there has still been no indication out of San Antonio that the Spurs will seriously explore trading their best player, teams are keeping a close eye on the situation and will be ready to inquire on Leonard’s availability.
As Deveney writes, the Lakers are viewed as a top candidate to pursue Leonard given their future cap flexibility. The Lakers are expected to have enough room for two maximum-salary free agents this offseason, but could also use that cap flexibility to sign a top free agent in 2019 or to trade for a star.
Additionally, Leonard is a Los Angeles native and at least one executive who spoke to Deveney believes that Leonard is angling to eventually land in his hometown. A separate general manager suggested that the Lakers look like the most logical landing spot if Leonard is moved.
“He’s going to be their target any way you look at it, this summer or next summer,” the GM told Deveney. “There’s not many other ways to explain what’s been going on with that situation other than him trying to get out of San Antonio.
“That’s the thing to watch,” the GM continued. “It might be a pipe dream for them to get two max guys this summer, but if they have a player like Leonard who wants to be in L.A.? They’d have to make that happen now.”
It’s hard to imagine Leonard making an explicit trade request that goes public like Paul George did with the Pacers last summer, but it’ll still be interesting to see whether the way the Lakers handled the George situation impacts the way they go after Leonard. The Lakers were viewed as a prime trade suitor for George, but there were questions about whether to give up much for him since he could sign with the team outright as a free agent a year later. Now, he’s a member of the Thunder and he’s no lock to leave Oklahoma City. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka may find themselves in a similar situation with Leonard during the 2018 offseason, weighing just how hard they should push for a trade if the Spurs are really willing to listen.
Of course, the Spurs and Leonard could put trade and free agency speculation to rest entirely if they agree to a contract extension this July. If Leonard doesn’t accept an extension offer right away though – or if the Spurs don’t put that offer on the table at all – the trade rumors surrounding him only figure to grow louder.
He is NOT going anywhere. A lot of speculation for a guy who is working his way back from a major injury.
Agree 100%. Fools speculating. So many think they understand every aspect of basketball – including the mindset of those involved in the nasty business of NBA and NCAA.
Just like people are speculating that he will be moved you are speculating that he won’t. The only ones that know are Kawhi and the Spurs. I am not sure if he will be traded or not, but you shouldn’t rule it out since this is a league in which we saw Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler moved in the last 15 months.
No one really knows what’s going on except Kawhi & the Spurs organization … everything up to now is pure speculation. The media is going to continue to talk about it to stir up interest and draw more viewers. If there i# a problem, I’m hoping that Pop will work his magic and get Kawhi to sign an extension this summer … Go Spurs Go
Can the Spurs extend him and then immediately trade him? That way he has more value for trades since he’s not a risk to bolt in a year?
He could be allowed to negotiate a new deal with a team interested in acquiring him. I do believe their is a period of time that a player cannot be traded after signing a contract. Not sure if that applies to a resigning. But it would be hard to imagine Leonard resigning knowing he is going to be traded unless he had say in where he was going
If they give him a supermax extension, he can’t be traded for a year. If it’s not a supermax, it can be traded sooner, but not necessarily right away (depends on exact years/money).
Wont even be a “negotiation” lol. Basically Kawhi will have a list of teams he’d sign a Supermax with. This situation is like he has an MLB partial no trade contract.
Thanks for the answer.
And his new team can’t offer the supermax either for a while… so either way the team is taking a huge risk. Makes it seem unlikely that any team actually meets the price to acquire him.
Actually strike that, if hes traded no supermax. Just a regular max extension.
Good. Meanwhile the Mavs are going to try and steal Randle
Who would San Antonio get in return?
What would San Antonio get in return?
Ask for Randle,Ingram and Zubac.
I highly doubt Kawhi will be traded
We’ll see. But if he stays? They better have 200 Million reasons why!
Probably won’t be traded. Even if he is, do the Spurs really trade him to any team in the West?
I don’t know if Leonard will be traded. I do know that his market value will be high, because c’mon…he’s an elite two way player. Not many of those in the NBA. Also, not many teams will have the necessary assets in order to accomplish such trade. Who knows? Will be an entertaining offseason again of : Will they or Wont they. lol
What’s the value of a guy who sat out a year while the team is cleared him to play. I think he’s taken a little hit.
Randle can’t be traded with anyone else.
I think it starts with Ingram, Kuzma and Hart. With no 1st this year though, it’s going to be hard for the Lakers to be able to land Leonard.
Wrong! The Lakers have the 25 th pick this year! (Cavs). Go for him magic bring Kawhi to LA.
They’re not trading Ingram, Kuzma and Hart+ whatever else you’re thinking for a year of Kawhi. He can walk after next year and the Spurs get nothing.
Insane. Too much for one year. Those are the three guys you want on the team with him. Trade Ball in package for Leonard and sign George.
Ingram + Deng + Cavs Pick or Kuzma + Hart + Deng + Cavs Pick. That would make sense for both. If you’re trading for Kawhi and trying to land PG13 or LBJ, where are the minutes for Ingram/Kuzma whomever you keep. If you are able to use Kumza to land Kawhi, Ingram at 5.5M is easier to trade for a quality player at Center or SG. Ingram for Donovan Mitchell? Ingram for Josh Jackson? Ingram for Fultz?
Kuzma, Hart and Deng are all Popovich-type players, and Spurs need the depth. Some other team may bid more though.
Can the Lakers use some of their cap space as salary matching for Kawhi? In other words could they trade picks and players that equaled 60% of his salary and trade “into cap space” the remaining 40%??
As long as they finish under the cap at the end of the transaction, this is allowed (ie. a team $20MM under the cap could trade $10MM in salary in a deal and acquire a player earning $29MM, but not $31MM).
Same people saying PG was a lock to go to LA. Leonard to LA is just the new cool topic.