Kawhi Leonard trade rumors: 7 potential destinations for Spurs star
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are Kawhi Leonard’s desired destination, either by trade or free agency in 2019. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that doesn’t mean the Spurs are simply going to deal him there.
Indiana had little interest in Paul George trade w/ Lakers -- and that'll be case for Spurs too. Boston gives Spurs best building blocks of assets -- one of young forwards (likely Jaylen Brown), its own 18 pick/19 protected Kings pick, etc. Lonzo to Spurs? Don't hold your breath.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2018
Given the history between the Spurs and Lakers, it’s not surprising Pop would be hesitant to deal with a former rival, especially if it would help restore that rival to its former glory.
Further complicating matters is Wojnarowski’s assertion that the Spurs would have no interest in Lonzo Ball or the media circus that would come with him, ruling out a possible deal revolving around Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Ivica Zubac, for example.
It’s hard to blame the Spurs. Murray is going to be good, and for all his developing talent, Ball still can’t shoot and his father is a living, breathing headache. For a franchise that hasn’t dealt with upset or drama-plagued stars in decades (until now), San Antonio would be less than eager to replace an upset Kawhi with the constant media attention the Ball family receives.
This doomed hypothetical provides the framework of a Kawhi-Lakers trade, however. At the center would be Brandon Ingram, a wing oozing with potential who quietly improved by the end of his second season despite being weighed down by nagging injuries.
The Lakers would try to get away with including Josh Hart instead of Kyle Kuzma, allowing them to keep Lonzo, Kuzma, Kawhi and still have room to go out and pursue LeBron James and Paul George. They could do so by trying to offer the No. 25 pick in this year’s draft, and perhaps an additional future first-rounder to sweeten the deal.
However, this still might not be enough for either side, since the Lakers would be trying to unload Luol Deng‘s contract and the Spurs would probably continue to push for Kyle Kuzma.
It’s highly unlikely San Antonio would pick up the phone at all for the Lakers, and if they did only to receive an offer like this, Pop would laugh Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka right out of his contacts.
A veteran like Deng could still be useful at age 33, but with two years and $36.8 million remaining on his contract, the Lakers would have to really pony up to snag Kawhi and clear that albatross in one fell swoop.
It’d almost certainly take Kuzma in addition to Ingram, and probably this year’s draft pick as well.
The Spurs would be getting a second-year wing who just averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on .470/.390/.681 shooting splits in Ingram, plus a rookie who burst from the gates with 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on .450/.366/.707 shooting, plus the No. 25 pick.
The Lakers would be getting their first established star, a bench shooter in Forbes and the chance to entice both LeBron and George in free agency with Deng’s deal off the books. It’s a dream scenario for the Lakers, and pretty solid compensation for San Antonio…just don’t expect for Pop to even consider empowering a former rival like this.