Kawhi Leonard wants to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

Kawhi Leonard wants to be traded to the Lakers

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants a fresh start elsewhere, and the Lakers are his preferred landing spot.

After a season of turmoil, as he only played nine games and went outside the organization for medical treatment, it seemed Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs were ready to mend fences. But a reported meeting between Leonard and coach Gregg Popovich hasn’t brought that result, with Shams Charania of Yahoo! first to report Leonard wants a trade.

Potential landing spots in a trade for Leonard will now come full force. But according to Chris Haynes and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Leonard specifically wants a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Leonard is from Los Angeles, and he went to college at San Diego State. So the Lakers make sense, especially if he also has a desire to play in a bigger market. The Lakers have seemingly been clearing cap space for free agency this summer or next, so they can take on what Leonard is owed next season ($20.1 million) and pay up to keep him long-term if and when he opts out next summer.

Leonard would lose out on the super-max contract extension this offseason if the Spurs trade him, but his issues with the organization seem to go deeper than that.

Kawhi Leonard isn't concerned about missing out on the supermax, sources tell ESPN. There's a feeling of betrayal that at this juncture, appears irreparable.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 15, 2018

The Lakers can put together a solid trade package for Leonard, centered around Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and/or Brandon Ingram along with the 25th-overall pick in next week’s draft thrown in. The Spurs may want the prospect of a better first-round pick or two, this year or down the road, and that’s where talks of a deal with the Lakers could go off the rails.

If the Lakers make a deal for Leonard, one or two more huge dominoes could be in play for them. Speculation surrounding their ability to sign LeBron James, Paul George or both would ramp up and also feel more realistic if Leonard is coming aboard.

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