Sheesh, this Kawhi Leonard thing.
I wasn't going to post
Kevin Pelton's article about how the Lakers can land James, George, AND Leonard, but Leonard formally requested a trade to Los Angeles according to both
Chris Haynes and
Adrian Wojnarowski (favors Lakers but didn't rule out Clippers) so it's relevant here. Pelton suggested:
1. Leonard has to request a trade to the Lakers.
2. The Lakers send Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Luol Deng (to match salaries) to the Spurs for Leonard.
I chalked it up as an off-season puff piece, just click-bait BS since there's nothing to talk about until the draft. Then, Leonard actually requested a trade so I think it's worth discussing.
This might sound crazy, but I don't think the Lakers should make that trade. They'd give up too much given the circumstances. Everyone remembers Carmelo Anthony's trade to the Knicks in 2011. Had he waited what, four months, the Knicks would have had a great core around Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Front Office Rule #1: Don't gut your team for a superstar on an expiring contract. A roster featuring James, Leonard, and George looks great on paper, but the team loses Ball, Kuzma, and probably Julius Randle. Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart round out the starting lineup then there's NO ONE. That team isn't better than the Warriors. Sure, they can get some cheap veterans, but I'd still bet on the Warriors 100 times out of 100.
The Spurs are working from an extremely weak position. They can
try to demand a ransom, but Leonard has all the power. All his reps have to say is, "He will not re-sign with you." Okay, maybe someone (read: Danny Ainge) takes that chance, but even that idea is fraught with risk. First, who knows when he comes back from injury? Second, he clearly has no problem sitting out almost an entire season AND not traveling with the team. If you're NOT a team on his preferred list, do you give up any decent assets to potentially never see Leonard on the court then watch helplessly when he putzes off next summer?
Kawhi Leonard was the best player on a championship team, arguably the best two-way player currently, and probably still considered the second best overall player in the league. He knows he can sit out an entire season again and teams will still beg him to sign. Who fucks with this guy? That's a dangerous game of chicken, my friend.
Since this story heavily involves the Lakers, let's go back to them. Magic Johnson, who clearly doesn't give a **** about the NBA's tampering rules, probably knows where he stands on free agency. If I'm the Lakers, I try to get this deal done on draft night. Send Ball, Deng, 2018 25th pick (via the Cavs) and their own 2019 and 2021 picks, and maybe a second round pick and/or Ivica Zubac. The trade would have to be agreed upon before the Lakers select this year so the Spurs can choose the player and still get the Lakers 2019 pick due to the Stepien rule. I would build the trade around Ball because he has the highest upside, the most years left on his rookie contract, and if they get Leonard, that's enough to convince James to sign (George is probably a lock) who would take the ball out of Ball's hands anyway. I don't give up Ingram, Kuzma, or Josh Hart because they're good rotation pieces at this point in their careers. Maybe they can work something out to keep Randle. George and James would have to take less than the max so probably not.
That's the best case scenario, and I don't actually think that's going to happen. It depends on who blinks first though. I don't believe Johnson and Rob Pelinka gut the team for Leonard since they know the Lakers are his preferred destination. They're more likely to sign who they can now and kick the can down the road until next summer. You don't build a successful team by surrendering a bunch of talent. It just sucks immensely when a star player holds you hostage. Sorry, Pop.
EDIT: There are conflicting reports on whether Kawhi Leonard personally requested a trade or if his camp leaked it to the press.