Can Los Angeles Lakers make Spurs an offer for Kawhi they can’t refuse?
By Dave Daniels
The Los Angeles Lakers are on the clock, and the San Antonio Spurs are between a rock and a hard place
The San Antonio Spurs are speaking with many teams about Kawhi Leonard at the moment, but the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the conversation. When Leonard made his trade demand public it essentially ended his relationship with the Spurs, and it’s difficult to imagine him in training camp with them this fall.
The Boston Celtics are talking with the Spurs as well, but it’s hard to see Danny Ainge giving up any blue chip talents for a player who might bolt to the Lakers next summer. The Spurs are, after all, trying to get a better package than what the Indiana Pacers got for Paul George, and that will be a tall task.
Leonard is a two-time first-team All-NBA player, Finals MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year. So it will be impossible for the Spurs to get equal value back, but they certainly don’t have to hand him over to the Lakers as a gift.
What can Los Angeles offer?
Apparently Brandon Ingram and future first-round picks are already on the table, but that won’t be enough. The Lakers will have to at least consider adding Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball or both to the package for there to be a chance.
The Lakers might not like what they have to give up in order to land Leonard, but what if they make a Godfather offer that the Spurs can’t refuse with a guarantee from LeBron James that he’ll sign next week? Is there any player or pick that would actually be untouchable?
No way.
Next: Which NBA Team Has The Best Uniform of All-Time?
This might end up going down as a three-team trade if the Lakers don’t have enough assets that the Spurs value, but it’s looking like there is a big move coming from somebody before free agency even begins.