Miami Heat: Kawhi Leonard and Pat Riley’s final triumph

The Heat angle

A number of prominent media identities, including Rose and Stephen A Smith of ESPN, have stated that if Leonard decided to part ways with the Spurs this summer, the most likely destination would be the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only because Leonard grew up in the area, but because of the Lakers’ stated intentions of signing up to two maximum contract players over the next couple of summers.

Although the Lakers would represent a tantalizing prospect for any potential prospect, the Miami Heat remain a genuine option should the relationship between the Spurs and Leonard become untenable.

While the Lakers as a franchise clearly have a history of success, one thing remains clear – their current front office setup remains unproven. Granted, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson is likely to get in a room with all and any potential prospect in the coming years.

However, this is where the Heat hold the upper hand. Pat Riley has been in charge of running the franchise since arriving in 1995, and his record speaks for itself. On the other, Johnson, Riley’s former protegé during his days as head coach of the Lakers, has been in the top job for just 12 months. Considering the elite environment of success that has encapsulated the Spurs, the risk of the unknown is something that could certainly sway the thinking of Leonard should a change of scenery be his preference.

For Riley, this would more than represent the elusive “whale” he has sort after since the departure of LeBron James in 2014.