The Lakers might be the logical landing spot if the Spurs decide not to offer Kawhi Leonard a supermax deal or if he tells them he’ll walk after next season, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe speculates. Leonard can opt out of his deal next summer and the Spurs would want to acquire assets rather than wind up with nothing, as the Thunder experienced when Kevin Durant bolted, Washburn continues. The Lakers have enough assets to make such a deal happen, but the Celtics would likely decline the Spurs’ advances if they were asked to give up Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and a first-rounder for him, Washburn adds.
In other news around the Southwest Division:
- Clint Capela‘s value to the Rockets hasn’t gone unnoticed and should lead to a lucrative offseason for the impending restricted free agent, as Stefano Fusaro of The Undefeated notes. Houston went 42-3 this season when Capela, Chris Paul and James Harden were all in the lineup, and Paul told Fusaro it’s no coincidence. “Y’all know the record when we all play together, and I’ll tell you it’s not because of me and James,” Paul said. “Clint is really the X factor. He opens up so much for us.”
- Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley anticipates playing a full season after his injury-marred 2017/18 campaign, the team’s PR department tweets. Conley opted for season-ending heel surgery in late January after appearing in just 12 games. “Thankfully I had the surgery early enough to where I have a full summer of work and getting my body ready for an 82-game season,” Conley told reporters.
- Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes wants to play for the U.S. national team again, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports. Barnes, who had a limited role in the 2016 Olympics, is one of 35 players USA Basketball has named as candidates to play in the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympics. “Everybody would love to play in a World Cup and the Olympics,” Barnes told Sefko. “Those are bucket-list experiences. If I could be included in that group, it would be really special.”
No way Kawhi is worth Tatum, Brown and a 1st
I agree. I’m not sore Tatum won’t better than Kawhi in 2 years
Sure
Your high
Tatum will be better player than Kawhi in a few years ….: I’m not totally sure giving up rozier brown and a first is worth Kawhi cuz the spurs will want brown and rozier now that he has taken Bledsoe to school this series…. Celtics would b better off keeping their own and waiting for Irving and Hayward to come back….
I agree 100% the C’s are stacked right now and then next yr they get GH back there’s no point to messing with this team for a big star that may or may not work out for them
They simply could have one of the next big 3’s in the game with Brown Tatum and Rozier and could be looking at 2 high first round pick in the 2019 draft
Well Boston faces interesting money questions. Does you give Art and Rozier bill deals? How does that look with three near max deals? How does that impact ability to sign a player like Brown down the road? How would somehow adding Leonard impact all that?
*Smart (not Art)
The baseline offer is the Clippers likely “deal” of Tobias Harris, both 12 and 13 in this year’s strong draft, and taking back one of Spurs’ bad contracts. Boston (or any other team) will have to top that.
Does that mean Tatum, Brown and Sacto’s pick in next year’s weaker draft? I don’t know, but Angie can’t cheap out (as is his instinct) with a package around featuring Rozier and the heavily protected 1st round pick – LOL.
Also, can we take a moment to remember that BOS nearly offered FOUR first rounders for Justise Winslow??? But anything richer than Rozier and a pick is too much…
Timberwolves must make an attempt
What do you think gets a deal done?
Wiggins would be a good player for Pop to coach up into an all-star, he has all the tools just needs the mentality. Kawhi on the Wolves would be absolutelty insane.
Wiggins for Leonard straight up?
Wiggins and Patton. Patton could be the Spurs future center and Wiggins the small forward. Move out Aldridge for CJ McCollum and the Spurs would have new life.
Murray-CJ-Wiggins-Bertans-Gasol
Wiggins is an underpay for Kawhi. Kawhi-Jimmy Buckets would be scary tho
How is he an underpay? The kid has everything to be a 1st option and the athleticism to work with to become a very good defender. He wants to be a first option which is a plus, on the Spurs he would be welcomed as the second option behind Aldridge.
Wiggins won’t get it done, nor is he the type of player that the Spurs would look/trade for.
Why is not the type of player the Spurs would
Not trade for? Athletic wing who can shoot from the perimeter with great length to play the 2-3, enlighten me.
Why is everyone on Aldridge getting traded? Seen it on here a few times now. He is Pop’s Duncan. They can make room for a big contract and keep Aldridge. Paul George would look good with the Spurs. Still think Kawhi stays.
Don’t worry about Kawhi Leonard will be a laker next season, and that’s the name of that tuned!
Celtics should make a push for kawhi.
Offer up
1 of Tatum or brown
Ojeleye
Rosier
Future 1st.
Get back kawhi and SAs 1st this year.
Tatum/brown 1 is expendable with Hayward coming back. Pop needs a new pg rozier would fit which celtics can look for a replacement with the S.A. pick.
Tatum is a offensive superstar in the making he is untouchable and brown is getting their too…. only way either gets traded is for a guy like Anthony Davis …. Kawhi quit on his team I don’t want him on the Celtics … C’s are better keeping their own
Nailed it
How is 1 expendable? No1 plays 2 bigs anymore.
Irving, Heyward, Brown, Tatum, Horford.
That looks pretty good to me. And Brown has the functional strength to play against the more traditional 4s. But there’s no way that guy can guard him.
Not sure what the Lakers really can offer that’ll move the needle for Spurs. Ingram is nice, but then what? They have no picks. Randle? He’s looking for a payday now and I think most teams are loath to be the team to offer him his next deal (same for those hyping Rozier from Boston btw). Ball? Spurs won’t want to deal with an even nuttier family dynamic than what they’re going through with Leonard. Kuzma? Seems like a good numbers on crap team kind of dude.
Clippers probably have a better offering if the Spurs want to accommodate Leonards desire of going to LA.