The Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have been in touch on a Kawhi Leonard trade two times on Sunday and may talk again this evening.
"San Antonio is asking for the house," said Stephen A. Smith. "Kyle Kuzma is off limits. They're not willing to surrender three picks. Their mentality is that Kawhi Leonard wants to be a Laker (now or in 2019)."
Smith also reports that Leonard could even sit out the 18-19 season if he's not traded to the Lakers. Smith clarified that he's heard this from other executives and not directly from Leonard on that report.
The Lakers are prepared to walk away from trade talks with the Spurs if a deal isn't done by Monday.
I in some ways understand the Lakers reluctance, if you think you have him next year why trade assets? Its just that this isnt a normal circumstance. You have the best player in the world for 3 years, and he's 33. If you don't pair him with another star you just aren't very good this year, not with the non-shooters and junk they've surrounded him with this free agency and not in the west. What are they, like a 45-48 win team? SO they are gonna waste a prime year of Lebron? I just don't see it.
But okay, maybe they don't care about that. But what if kawhi changes his mind. We just say Paul George do it, and they are different people but thats at least proof of concept. Right now what Kawhi knows is he doesn't wnat to be in San Antonio, and thats all he knows for sure. he doesn't know what Boston, Phili, ect are like so it makes sense he'd wnat to go home to LA. If he gets traded Boston, Phili, makes a finals run, plays in front of crazy screaming adoring fans every night in a much bigger basketball market AND can get paid more is he really going to leave? I mean Paul George likes OKLAHOMA CITY enough to stay. LA has an advantage right now in that they KNOW he wants to be there, and he doesn't know any better. Letting that pass is a risk.
But fine, maybe they don't care about that either. The last thing to consider is what Kawhi wants. Right now he is telling LA through leaks, press reports ect that he wants to go there. If LA just backs off, says "na, we're good for now," doesn't that run the risk of alienating the guy. In his mind he's a top 5 player (he is correct), and those guys choose where they play and the team makes it happen. So now he is already possibly turning down the super max to play for LA and in return they wont even pony up and make a trade? I could see a case where that makes a star payer angry.
So ya, to me theres a lot of risks here. Sure, you can wait to get to free agency and sign him. But thats a maybe, not a certainty. And if you miss out maybe you can get someone else but for competing with the GSW's Kawhi is the perfect guy. And has anybody else actually looked at the free agency list.
Irving-Not playing with Lebron
Durant- If he leaves likely wants his own team
Love-Already tried that
Kemba-Not an all star in the west
Thompson-Rumblings he will reisgn in GS
Horford (PO)-Can't see him leaving for LA
Butler- 30 years old, with the legs of a 50 year old.
Marc Gasol-Old
Kris Middleton-Best option? Thats sad.
Maybe i'm missing somebody but you get the point, no truly elite guys really available after Kawhi. So ya, if you don't get Kawhi you are out of luck really. Now as the Celtics I wouldn''t do a Kawhi trade, too much risk. BUt as LA what else are you gonn do? You got 1 mvp level player, go get another while you have a chnace.