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NBA Rumors: 5 best landing spots for Kawhi Leonard

By Rucker Haringey

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against the Dallas Mavericks on February 23, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against the Dallas Mavericks on February 23, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Kawhi Leonard seems determined to end his time with the San Antonio Spurs. If he’s really dead set on leaving, these are the top five destinations.

It seems the soap opera between the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard is finally set to end. Unfortunately for Gregg Popovich and Co., it’s going to leave with the superstar finding another team this summer.

Which side you place the blame on is irrelevant at this point. ESPN is reporting that Leonard is determined to leave and that he’d like to land in Los Angeles. He’d prefer to end up with the Lakers but the Clippers also have a shot. Of course, the Spurs are under zero obligation to trade Leonard to his preferred destination.

That opens things up considerably for a pretty interesting bidding war. Irrespective of Leonard’s wishes, these five teams would represent the best possible landing spots for the All-NBA wing.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

When Doc Rivers’ team was healthy last season they were pretty competitive in a brutal Western Conference. Some better health next season, combined with the addition of Kawhi Leonard could help boost the Clippers into the Conference’s top four.

The question is whether or not the Clippers have the ammunition to deal for Leonard. Doing so would almost certainly require the franchise to part with their pair of first-round picks in this year’s draft. They’d also need to give up some actual players to make the money work.

If you assume they could get away with just losing one core piece, it’s at least an intriguing destination for Leonard. The trio of Lou Williams, Leonard and DeAndre Jordan should be enough to get the Clippers back into the playoffs. Leonard can certainly find a more attractive destination, but the Clippers give him a solid fallback option in the city he prefers.

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