If the Lakers can secure Kawhi Leonard, getting LeBron James will then, in turn, would be a slam dunk, BSO sources have confirmed. The only question what do the Spurs want to do.
If I am the Spurs, I take the offer, because at the moment they can fleece the Lakers, no team is going to give up a whole lot for Kawhi if he won’t guarantee he will sign an extension.
The Spurs can call his bluff or they can reload with a lot of young talent, something the Lakers have in abundance at the moment.
The stakes on these talks are enormous because the teams believe a deal for Leonard would likely clinch a free-agent commitment out of LeBron James to the Lakers. James has until late Friday night to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Spurs have wanted to find a way to repair the franchise’s relationship with Leonard, but an overwhelming Lakers offer could convince San Antonio to part with its franchise star, league sources said.
As ESPN reported earlier, there’s a race to secure Leonard before James is faced with making a decision in free agency, especially with concern that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George is no longer assured of signing with the Lakers, league sources said.
Another James preference that could impact free agency — assuming he chooses to opt out before Friday’s deadline — is that he wants to make a decision quickly in July free agency, league sources said.
The Lakers have been weighing the conservation of young assets and future draft picks against the possibility of getting shut out in free agency. The Lakers hoped to lure James and George in free agency, which would give them more leverage in Leonard trade talks — or simply for the ability to wait until next year to sign Leonard.
The price for Leonard would be substantial. The Lakers could have to surrender a combination of former first-round picks — from Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart — and future first-round picks and perhaps restricted free agent Julius Randle in a sign-and-trade agreement.
Stay tuned, things are getting good.