Los Angeles Lakers: 5 biggest ‘what-ifs’ of the last 25 years
By Amaar Burton
5. What if Kawhi Leonard had signed with the Lakers in 2019?
This is the “what-if” that is currently sticking in the craw of a lot of Los Angeles Lakers fans as you read these words. They were the victims in what was perhaps the greatest fake-out in the history of free agency.
According to a lot of credible media members with sources who were supposedly in the know, 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was going to choose the Lakers as his new team this summer.
Even after leading the Toronto Raptors to an improbable NBA championship, the California native seemed unlikely to stay in Canada, where he’d been traded in 2018 after an ugly breakup with the San Antonio Spurs.
The longer that Leonard dragged out his decision and kept those outside of his circle in the dark, the more it was reported that the Lakers were front-runners for his signature.
Kawhi is “Lakers to lose,” I’m told. Not done deal yet, but Lakers are his top choice.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 30, 2019
Leonard did finally choose L.A., but he went with the Clippers over the Lakers after convincing the “other” L.A. squad to trade for first team All-NBA swingman Paul George as his running mate.
Lakers fans, along with the rest of the NBA world, were stunned by the 11th-hour developments. Many felt they had been betrayed and played for fools.
What if Leonard had picked the Lakers?
Conventional wisdom was that a Lakers team featuring Leonard, LeBron and Anthony Davis would enter the 2019-20 season as the overwhelming favorite to win it all. They would be the league’s newest “super team,” with a “Big 3” that could’ve been the most talented trio the game has seen.
Even with LeBron on the downside of his career — he will turn 35 years old this season — a duo of Leonard (28) and Davis (26) would make the Lakers a sustainable powerhouse with long-term visions of adding more championship trophies to their collection.
The Lakers bounced back from the Leonard whiff by signing former All-NBA center DeMarcus Cousins and distributing the rest of its salary cap space on an impressive collection of role players.
This year’s team will be good, but with Leonard it could have been an all-time juggernaut.