Pressure appears to be mounting on the Lakers to make a deal for Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard before LeBron James makes his free agent decision, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, Brian Windhorst, and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com.
As ESPN’s report explains, there’s a belief that James would be reluctant to commit to the Lakers in free agency if he’s the only star headed to Los Angeles. With Paul George no longer viewed as a lock to land in L.A., Leonard may represent the Lakers’ best bet to acquire another star to help convince James to head west.
James’ player-option decision due on Friday, so there’s a race to acquire Leonard by then, per Woj, Windhorst, and Shelburne. The Celtics, Cavaliers, Sixers, and Clippers are among the teams that have made offers for Leonard, and multiple teams in that group figure to be in the mix for James too. If the Lakers were to lose out on Leonard to, say, the Sixers or Cavs, it could reduce L.A.’s chances of recruiting LeBron to L.A.
Of course, the Spurs have stated they won’t rush into any trade involving Leonard, since their preference would be to retain him. It’s possible that they receive an offer this week that they simply can’t refuse, but the Spurs likely won’t be eager to improve another team’s chances of landing James.
Here are several other key updates related to the Lakers, Cavaliers, James, Leonard, and more:
- Although the Lakers came away from their initial conversation with the Spurs feeling like San Antonio “shut the door” on them, ESPN’s trio reports that the Spurs haven’t ruled out trading Leonard to any destination in the Eastern or Western Conference.
- The Lakers have been on the lookout for a future first-round pick on the trade market and are willing to take on 2018/19 salary, per ESPN. The Lakers could keep a max-salary slot open for a free agent even if they take on some salary, and that pick could be used to sweeten a larger trade package.
- While the Cavaliers have been actively exploring ways to upgrade their roster via trades or free agency, they haven’t been given the chance to meet with or discuss scenarios with James, league sources tell ESPN. With LeBron unwilling to commit to the Cavs, it will be tricky for the front office to execute a major trade in the interim. For instance, if George were to consider picking up his player option to accommodate a trade to Cleveland, he’d want to know that James was sticking around.
- Although the Cavaliers have inquired about Leonard, they probably don’t have the assets to pull off a deal, given their competition for the star forward, per ESPN’s report.
- James is hoping to decide on his free agent destination fairly quickly, according to ESPN.
- Some league executives who spoke to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News believe that James would be willing to sign with the Lakers even if the team hasn’t made any other impact moves yet. “They’re doing enough research to suggest that he’s going to be willing to take that plunge and let the roster come together,” one GM told Deveney. “It’s what happened in Cleveland four years ago.” When James signed with the Cavaliers in 2014, he did so before the team had finalized a trade for Kevin Love.
On july the 4th 2018 – Espn breaking news…..”Lebron intends to sign a 1 year 35 million deal with an opt out with the los angeles lakers.”
One year with an opt out? How does that work?
Going to be hard to get him. Lakers are probably willing to make a good realistic offer. But the Spurs will be difficult
Spurs have to trade him now or lose him for nothing next summer. If they’re smart they trade him.
But they don’t have to trade him on the the Lakers time table. What concern is it of theirs what LeBron or Paul George do. They could easily take their time and wait to see how free agency plays out before deciding what to do. Or they trade him at the deadline.
Yes, not necessarily the Lakers. I’ve heard they want to trade him East preferably.
Is it pretty certain he signs with LA in free agency next year? Even if that’s the case I could certainly see the Spurs taking a lesser offer from another team to keep him away from a rival. If not then it truly is let the best team win, with the Lakers in such a scenario being at a major disadvantage.
My guess is the Spurs are going to want the Lakers to take a trade that handicaps their ability to do much else. And the first step to doing that would be saying they won’t make any decision on a trade until free agency plays out.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he won’t go to LA in less Ball is gone from everything you read and here about him plus his father y would he want to play with him
IF that is true that will be an issue because I have seen it reported a few places that San Antonio will not take Lonzo Ball in trades.
For Luke Adams: San Antonio says they won’t trade Kawhi to the western Conference, and they still have a year to sign him. If the Lakers can’t get him, doesn’t that mean they can’t put a superteam together? Wouldn’t that mean they could only sign LeBron, and then sign Kawhi next summer and not be able to afford a third max?
Kevin Love says he wants to retire with LeBron and lives in L.A. Can you see him going to the Lakers if LeBron does? I can see LeBron signing a one year contract to wait on Love until after nextt season.
I read LeBron has already told his sponsors where he’s going.
This article says Lebron wants the Lakers to get Kawhi first. Sports Illustrated says he’ll sign with L.A. without Kawhi. Media says he has his kids enrolled in school in L.A. Media says Spurs won’t make trade with L.A. Media says Paul George is staying in OKC and Demarcus Cousins in New Orleans and CP3 in Houston. Media says LeBron has been calling players on other teams he is considering, trying to put a team together. Love says he wants to retire in Cleveland and can opt out after next season. Cleveland sdays LeBron says he won’t stay in Cleveland unless they trade for Kemba Walker. LeBron says the final decision is whether his wife or kids wants to live in Cleveland or L.A. Brian Windhorst says he’ll announce around July 3. The part that has me stumped is “Does he get his kids their best possible education in L.A.? Or do they stay home? By the time LeBron Jr. graduates he’ll be able to go straight to the NBA. CP3 is union president and LeBron is vice. Sequia Valley High School in L.A. is a good school and LeBron is “rumored” to have LeBron Jr. enrolled there.
I see San Antonio holding on to Kawhi. Cleveland’s biggest mistake was trading Kyrie, and it cost them big time this year. I don’t see Pop making that mistake again. I don’t see him letting Kawhi go.
San Antonio is so dumb, if you can get Kuzma,Ingram,Hart, and Randle they should be jumping all over that.
Kuzma- Potential go to scorer on the Spurs
Ingram- Will do a lot of what Kawhi did and be a point forward for them to help Murray
Hart- Solid shooting guard who can knock down 3’s and a good rebounding guard.
Randle- 23 year old coming off a 16 ppg season who will only improve even more next season
San Antonio is really being stupid at this point. That would be a great return for Kawhi.
If that group of players is so great. Then, why don’t the Lakers just keep all of them and build around them?
Because Magic is trying to accelerate this team into a title contender. He’s not trying to wait 2-3 years.
Because LeBron wants another star or two.
That’s a good starting point. There would need to be more assets, draft picks, and a third team involved
Leonard isn’t worth Kuzma, Randle, Hart and Ingram – either Kuzma or Ingram need to stay
Would love to see BK step in and shock the world by getting Leonard. Trade of RHJ, Dinwiddie, Carroll, and 2019 1st is not too bad a start. They have max money available for a free agent next year too
That’s funny. Bench players for a top 3-5 player.
That’s funny that you think of Kawhi as a top 3-5 player. He may have been last season, but not now. Top 20 maybe, but this lost season has pushed him down the list.
Keep telling yourself that.
If LeBron wants to lose to Golden State a round earlier, LA definitely is the best place for him.
Shaq is saying he moved around at end of his career chasing titles and it was a mistake. He’s telling LeBron to stop chasing titles at this time of his career and enjoy basketball with what time he has left, like what his friend Dwayne Wade is doing. I’m sure his friend Carmelo is looking at retirement. CP3 too.
Shaq says that but fogets that moving to Miami got him a championship.
big DIFFERENCE was SHAQ was not the PRO LeBron was .. shaq let himself go starting in LA… yeah he bounced around PHX,CLEV,BOS chasing titles he may have gotten more if he was as dedicated as BRON is.
He’s talking about when he went to Cleveland and Boston at the very end of his career. LeBron already has his legacy. If he doesn’t get to another Final it won’t change. He will be top 5 when he retires regardless of where he plays. LeBron Jr. graduates from high school in 5 years. I see LeBron playing that long.
LeBron also wants the Kobe and MJ status, something he won’t get without the rings.
He already has Kobe and M.J. status. LeBron and M.J. are 1a and 1b.
LeBron isn’t 1. I’ll give you 2, but MJ holds 1…alone.
Magic said yesterday he felt no pressure. Who would put it on them?
From the Lakers’ perspective, even if LeBron is insisting a second “star” to come, it would make more sense to see if they can add the “other” star the easy way, by signing George as a FA, vs the hard way, by trying to pry KL from the Spurs who seem determined not to trade him to them.
LeBron has an opt in date on Friday (which is relevant, as it will preclude most of the teams on his list if he doesn’t opt in, and makes things more difficult for the Lakers if he does), but it would be difficult to get a deal done (or close to that) between now and then.
All this jostling to build a “super team” is killing the NBA.. it’s makes for an incredibly dull season if there are only 3-4 teams that a have a chance at the title.. Golden state and Cleveland in the finals 4 years in a row is pathetic. I know the NBA is thriving but I’ve never been less interested in it…
yeah but to be fair there has been super teams for a while everyone dogs LeBron has starting it .. but honestly its been around since before then … NOW i cant think of a team that had 2 players like Curry and Durant on the same team ..that would of been like having Jordan Pippen and Horace Grant recruiting and getting Drexler in the early 90s.
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce are your culprits. It has gotten out of hand. Your small market teams can forget about ever winning championship. The NBA is all about big markets and tv revenue. I can believe it is rigged now.
yeah but even before those 3 did it in boston .. you had Kobe and Shaq in their prime going and getting guys like gary payton,karl Malone and glen rice… the rockets had the dream and Drexler and went and got pippen…the magic went out and got FAs t-mac and hill.
Pippen was past his prime when Houston got him. He wasn’t the help he was in Chicago. Same for Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Malone tried San Antonio and L.A. Payton tried Boston. All they were was serviceable backups, like Garnett and Pierce going to Brooklyn. They weren’t stars any more.
Can’t argue that.
– San Antonio
This is exactly why everyone spouting that PG to LA was guaranteed, needs to tuck their tail between their legs and learn to be quiet.
Nothing is guaranteed until a deal is signed. Ever.
Wake up.
Lebron-> Lakers
George-> Lakers
Leonard-> Lakers
Plus maybe a fourth guy that we haven’t heard takes a small contract, cousins 1 year, Chris Paul one year, or lesser player Trevor Ariza… somebody.
Lebron son going to sierra canyon! He is a lock to la!
This will get some comments..
After Celts sign Baynes, Smart to multi-year contracts and get a commitment from Leonard to stay in Boston long-term,
Celtics trade Al Horford and Terry Rozier for Spurs Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills.
Kawhi doesn’t seem like he’s in the mood for commitment.
And the Spurs hang up the phone on Boston.
The James family will prefer LA or NEOhio to Houston or Philly and the Cavs are pinched while LA is the opposite.
I think James will be fine with being the first outsider to the Lakers, and will then get busy recruiting Chris Paul. Paul George makes a fine plan B if CP stays in Houston.
I can see how it might be too late for Kawhi at that point. Spurs will guide Kawhi East. Once James chooses LA, Spurs will “open the door” to trading Kawhi to Philly. This will keep Kawhi out of the WC next year– By that time the Lakers will no longer have room and he will be adjusted to Philly, where he has family and can win.
Rumors say Ball will somehow wind up in Cleveland. Whatever, Collin Sexton will initially make a better 2.
Kawhi and draftee Lonnie Walker for:
RoCo, Saric & Bayless; and new draftees Zaire Smith & Spalding or Giannis bro.
Man Kawhi is not worth all the assets people think, San Antonio will only get scraps for him, with luck, or wait a year & he goes for free. Agree superteams do affect how many teams can realistically compete, but having said that, to me at the end of the day I don’t care who wins it, I am interested in watching the games, seeing the spectacle, how stars perform & so on, that is what I really enjoy, winning in boring style, like Detroit in 2004, doesn’t do anything for me, I rather see teams attacking, giving us a show worth watching & loosing, that winning boring, to me is all about the entertainment, hence I always have enjoyed more the RS than the playoffs, plenty of matches every night, all goes at 100mph, is exhilarating, the playoffs all is slower, pace of play, harder defences, games more space out… less interesting, my opinion anyway.