2019 NBA free agency: Analyzing Kawhi Leonard’s options
By Ananth Para
Los Angeles Lakers
If Kawhi Leonard wants a surefire chance to compete for a Larry O’Brien Trophy year in and year out, he should take his talents to the premier franchise in the NBA. With LeBron James and newly acquired superstar Anthony Davis there awaiting the current Finals MVP, there wouldn’t be a lack of superstar talent in La La Land.
The Lakers can provide any NBA superstar with the perfect scenario: desirable market, championship hopes, proven commodities as running mates and not to mention he’d return back home to his birth state.
But as mentioned before, Kawhi Leonard isn’t the typical NBA superstar; he’s the exception.
For all the noise that has been made about Kawhi Leonard’s Gregg Popovich-esque interviews, Leonard has mastered the art of saying a lot by saying little.
His main priorities come down to three primary objectives: winning, health and, most importantly, respect.
Does Los Angeles provide Kawhi’s best chance of winning? Absolutely. But will the Lakers provide Kawhi with the medical attention he deserves? That’s questionable considering their less than stellar track record.
But most importantly, will the Lakers and the rest of the NBA give Leonard the same amount of respect he has gotten over the past year with the Raptors as he would with what would undoubtedly be the most talented Big 3 of all time?
That remains to be seen.