The Lakers re-engaged the Spurs Wednesday in trade talks for Kawhi Leonard, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets. It’s the first time the teams have discussed a Leonard deal since the Spurs “shut the door” on them after an initial call, Shelburne adds.
The Lakers reportedly feel pressure to make a deal before LeBron James makes his free agent decision, with the belief James would opt out of his contract and commit to the Lakers in free agency if he could join forces with Leonard. With Paul George no longer viewed as a lock to choose the Lakers, Leonard may represent the Lakers’ best bet to acquire another star.
If a deal goes down soon, the Lakers will have to put together an overwhelming offer. According to an ESPN story from Shelburne, Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst, a massive package of young players and draft picks would have to go back to San Antonio. The package could include some combination of Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, perhaps along with restricted free agent Julius Randle in a sign-and-trade scenario, as well as future first-round picks, the story speculates. The Lakers are trying to acquire another first-round pick in a separate deal through a willingness to take on one or more bad contracts, the story adds.
The Spurs are not showing any urgency to make a trade, Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports tweets. San Antonio didn’t view the draft as a deadline, so it’s unlikely they’ll view free agency as a deadline, Mannix adds.
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 as well.
Why…..
Aha !!
There it is what we’ve been saying. Because Lebron called pop and said come on buddy what are you waiting for get Ingram kuzma first round pick or two whatever else you need and give up the goods.
Then Paul George comes, and the Lakers are set. Still not good enough to beat my Warriors but the writing’s on the wall.
If the Rockets can take the Warriors to 7 games, then a team of Ball, PG13, Leonard, LeBron, and whoever at center is more than capable of beating them
This has LeBron written all over it. He’s telling the Cavs they have to make moves to resign him too. He does this every trade deadline and offseason. He’s a general manager’s nightmare. They said last night he has already notified his sponsors (that he does commercials for) of who he is signing with. I think his camp is playing games again.
Rockets are a good team man! But CP3 is up there in age. And LeBron is too, I don’t know if i’m the Lakers……
Not even close. The rockets made it for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only. James harden is a cheater who gets more bogus foul call than the rest of the league combined, and iguodala was injured. That’s it. The rockets don’t stand a chance. LeBron won his ring in Cleveland because the league manufactured it for him and ratings. Doesn’t matter where he goes, he won’t be winning. As for Leonard, it doesn’t look good when your trying to get away from the classiest organization in the league with arguably the best coach. Or at least he was, age might be a factor at this point, but regardless, I wouldn’t give up anything for Leonard.
You mean like how the Warriors took 6 games to beat a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love in 2016?
*2015
3-1?
Well said. The Cavs couldn’t beat the Warriors with Kevin Durant. I believe the league is fixed for tv ratings.
A paranoaic twofer
The Spurs are being stupid because Kawhi doesn’t even want to step foot in that Spurs locker room anymore so just give up Buford he wants out.
If the Lakers offer you Ingram,Kuzma,Hart,and a first rounder you take that and run. You get a 20 point scorer in Kuzma and a point forward in Ingram along with Hart who is a very good finisher at the rim and can spread the floor and rebound.
said by a true Lakers fan!
If the Lakers offer this, they’re paying way too much. That’s the offer you make for a player who becomes your first option, not your third
I dont see lakers offering all three of those guys
I would argue with you but I’ve seen your comments.
Spurs are taking there time. They will make a good deal. Pop is doing what he can to get the Lakers to bid against themselves. Looks like it’s working. Lakers are upping the offer.
Spurs are stupid? One of the smartest, if not smartest, and best run organizations out there. I think they’d know better than you…
Only way Lakers get Leonard is giving up a kings ransom. They would have to give up 2 of ball, kuzma, Ingram or maybe all 3 if spurs take deng.
How are the Spurs being stupid Dionis? They’re playing chicken with the Lakers, and they’re driving the monster truck going right at the Lakers who are driving a Mini!
Lakers will continue to get more desperate, and the Spurs will get five pounds of flesh.
Pop….not Buford…is lakers road block. Pop is screwing up….just like Belichick….they believe they are invincible. Pop not helping Fakers. Clippers….come on Jerry….step up! Leonard doesn’t want to play with LBJ…..his uncle
Can you give me your bath salt guy?
asdfghjkl
My comments are being censored by MLBTR. Awful
No, they aren’t.
Lets not kid ourselves, this is a Kuzma and Ingram for Kawhi trade. The 1st rounder would most likely end up in the 22nd-25th pick range.
Why would the spurs trade him to LA?
Thats stupid. Help the lakers build a super team? No way.
If they dont trade him to the lakers and LJ decides not to sign, the lakers arent even a playoff team. Means Spurs have 1 less team to worry about.
Until next year when he’s a free agent.
Everyone said the same thing about Paul George, and now that he has a chance to sign with the Lakers it’s not a guarantee he is going to. A LOT can change in a year.
Lol it’d be great if the spurs held out then agreed after Bron signed elsewhere. Then turns out kawhis injury is legit career depleting after they give up Ingram and ball or something dumb.
I want tge Lakers to get good though, I always enjoy a Celtics Lakers final. It’d still be funny though, and show why tge spurs are so consistent.
Why would LA give all that up?? No one is going to give HALF as much!!! You know, waiting it out isn’t bad either!! Smh
Why can’t lbj just be the best player in the world, and have guys want to come to Cleveland? Just saying, wondering.
Because it’s Cleveland. He had no problems getting stars to come to Miami. But… Cleveland.
It’s Cleveland.
Because LeBron thinks he’s a great GM and wanted to sign guys of his own liking and gave them too much money for too many years. He won’t cave and say he needs other star players. His ego’s too Big, thinks he can do it himself with his buddies Tristan Thompson JR Smith whoever.
Guys do want to play with James. But the Cavs (and probably the Heat also) have not had capspace to pay them. They are always over the cap. I think the last they have had space along with James was in 2005 when they signed Larry Hughes and Donyell Marshall.
We will see where the good players go. No one is going to la so far.
The Spurs are playing this perfect. Lakers are feeling pressure. Whispers Lebron may stay in Cleveland. Paul George staying OkC. So the Lakers feel they have to get Kawhi now to try to get Lebron and possibly lure Paul George. Spurs will get max value. And who’s to say Lakers don’t get something else back Gasol?, Danny Green?. Lakers will overpay for Kawhi if they can get a commitment from Lebron, remember the Cavs are also looking at Kawhi even though they don’t have the pieces
It also drives up the price of anyone outside of the Lakers wanting to get in for a year of Leonard. Boston could influence him to re-sign, as well as New York. I’d suspect Philly could as well considering the NJ connection.
If I’m the Spurs, I tell the Lakers to show me you can flip the Ball sideshow for a solid 1st round pick. Then we can talk about a deal for Ingram, Kuzma, that pick, and several future firsts. Spurs dont want anything to do with the Ball sideshow.
Who does? Ugh
The Spurs just need to make sure the deal doesn’t permit the Lakers to thereafter max LBJ and PG13. Not taking Deng to start with.
I would offer Ingram and a pick only. Leave it at that. Spurs can take it or leave it. Leave the offer on tue table until the Trade window shuts next season. Then of Spurs still have Kawhi, they risk losing him for nothing.
I’d be signing Randle to a long term deal quick smart too, kids got game!
No urgency in Bron either! If he decides to come to LA, great, if not, so be it.
Wait until 2019, pursue Kawhi AND have a serious crack at Klay Thompson. Both younger, be perfect suits for the other young kids in LA and can remain together for several years.
Ball-Thompson-Kawhi-Kuzma-Randle
*the
Klay is NOT going to leave the Warriors……..period!!!
How do you know?!
If the price is right, AMYONE is gettable!
Specially if KD, Steph and Green take all of the available money and Klays offered $10-15m+ more a year
Klay is not like all NBA players. He wants to play his entire career with Steph Curry. Unlike most NBA players, he is LOYAL.
Okay, Philly then. I don’t see Pops being interested in Ingram or Ball and everyone else is cheap. No point in trying to sell Deng.
Philly has the draftee compared to Leonard, Zaire Smith; other promising draftees; RoCo; Saric. And they’re ready.
Just get george for free and kawaii free next year. F lebron.
I believe this is Pops last year. Let the crazy old man have some fun.
It seems like the Lakers are clearly ready to overpay for Leonard at this point. Kawhi is coming off a lost year and an injury that he may never fully recover from. The other teams that are interested in him don’t seem nearly as desperate to acquire him as LA does. If you’re San Antonio, you have the perfect scenario here. They likely wouldn’t seriously contend for the title with their current roster next season anyways, healthy Kawhi or not
Overpay or not Leonard on the Lakers opens the flodgates and gets them Lebron.
Magic is desperate. You can see that in all the goofy “headlines” coming out of LA and his assistance that players will come bc he’s “Magic”. Lmao.
Assistance? Insistence… Assurance…
Pop is coaching the next Olympic team. He’s not going anywhere.
The Spurs don’t want or need Ball included in any deal with the Lakers … just package Ingram, Kuzma, Hart, Randle and a 1st round draft pick for 2019 for Leonard and we’ll take it
If they want all 3 they have to trade for Kawhi they can’t sign both PG13 and LBJ and then try to sign Kawhi next year bc he wants max.
What they give upthough, if they have some kind of guarantee from LBJ and PG13 it doesnt matter what they give up those 3 plus a comparable player is enough to at the very least go to game 7 vs GSW.
I Think Westbrook and PG13 are closer than people know. In Indiana PG13 kept saying he wanted help. With Westbrook, he has it and they are good friends now. They are both from L.A. and happy in OKC.
3 way trade;
Spurs get Ingram, Kuzma, Gorgi Dieng, Lakers 1st, Timberwolves 2nd
Lakers get Leonard, Cole Aldrich
T’Wolves get Luol Deng, Ivica Zubac Lakers future protected 1st Lakers 2 2nd round picks
Lakers get their way, spurs get assets, Thibodeaux gets another ex bull.
*Think, frown, think, frown, chuckle*
Why would wolves do this? Lol
You think the TWolves would just bend over like that? Wouldn’t be the first time, but Geesch. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Spurs are going to sit back and wait. They aren’t going to rush into a trade. The Lakers want the trade done now to try to lure Lebron & George. If the Spurs take their time, it hurts the Lakers and that would make Pop happy. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Spurs waited until August to make a deal.
More like the trade deadline. They’ve been saying they have a year to talk with him. I think if he gets back on the court he’ll be ok. Pop has to be looking at what happened after the Cavs let Kyrie go. LeBron thought IT would help, he didn’t, Crowder either, or Clarkson, or Hood, and Hill just a little bit. People thought they weren’t getting anything. Why give up a superstar when you don’t know what you are getting in return?
That is people thought the Pacers weren’t getting anything. They did. The Bulls were pleasantly surprised with Markenan.
Kawhi is not worthy of either one of Ball, Ingram or Kuzma, yes they can have Hart & some other scraps, if Lakers keep calm San Antonio hasn’t got any decent offer so Spurs loose, now we start seeing the real San Antonio & Popovich, they always got away because they were winning, now they starting to show the are of not much use.
This is a big con by Kawhi and Pop. SA gets a quick rebuild and they resign Kawhi next year.