Getty Kawhi Leonard will be one of the top NBA free agents on the market this summer.
The Los Angeles Lakers chances of landing Kawhi Leonard in NBA free agency are dwindling based on the latest rumors. Leonard has concerns about being the “third wheel” with the Lakers and may not even take a meeting with the team, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Kawhi Leonard’s focus [is] on Los Angeles, but it’s the Clippers not the Lakers.”
“Kawhi Leonard is focused on Los Angeles, but it’s the Clippers, not the Lakers,” Wojnarowski reported on ESPN’s Get Up. “Number one, they do not have the money to sign him. Two, the idea of him being a third wheel on a team trying to create a superteam, that has not been Kawhi’s M.O. The Clippers are poised to be able to lure him from Toronto. This will be a Raptors-Clippers fight down the end. He may take meetings with more teams. It’s not even certain he will even take a meeting with the Lakers right now.”
This is just the latest report in what has been a string of bad news for Lakers fans hoping to land another marquee player via free agency.
The Lakers Are Unlikely to Land an “A-List” Player in NBA Free Agency
With rumors of Leonard potentially joining the Lakers heating up, Wojnarowski’s report points to an entirely different outcome. The idea that Leonard may not even take a meeting with the Lakers shows how unlikely it is that the All-Star ends up wearing purple and gold next season.
Wojnarowski also reported that the Lakers are unlikely to attract “A-List players” because of their salary cap situation. There is reportedly a real concern that L.A. will even be able to land “B-List” players as the Lakers are likely to use their remaining cap space for multiple players.
The good news for Lakers fans is LeBron James now has his second star in Anthony Davis. The challenge for the Lakers is they only have four players on their current roster and do not have any draft picks this year thanks to the trade.
Clippers Could Give Kawhi Leonard the Best of Both Worlds
Leonard is just coming off his second title run, so his free agency may be focused on more than just basketball. If Leonard does indeed want to live in Los Angeles, the Clippers offer him an opportunity to be the top option on a team that is coming off a playoff run. Much like he did in Toronto, Leonard would have another opportunity to help a franchise go deeper into the postseason.
Financially, the Clippers have more flexibility than the Lakers as the Davis trade may end up costing L.A. a chance to land a marquee free agent. With the Clippers, Leonard can go to L.A. without having to take a pay cut.
