4 Reasons the Los Angeles Lakers Should Trade For Kawhi Leonard

Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Reasons to trade for Kawhi Leonard

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 5: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. Kawhi Leonard is a legit superstar

In the 2016-17 season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 48.5 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range.

This is definitely franchise player material. He finished third in the regular season MVP race, and with the retirement of Tim Duncan and decline of Tony Parker, he became the unquestioned leader and go-to guy of his team.

The San Antonio Spurs won 61 games that season. Leonard helped them build a 23 point lead in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors before Leonard went down with an injury. Had it not been for Leonard landing on Zaza Pachulia‘s foot after shooting a jumper, you could make a strong argument that the Spurs would’ve at least had a real chance of beating the Warriors and advancing to the championship series.

Leonard is one of the few superstars in the NBA who also excels on the defensive end. He was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

His athletic 6-foot-7 and 230-pound frame give him the physical tools to guard more than one position and match up with the likes of Lebron James and Kevin Durant. It also doesn’t hurt that Leonard was the MVP of the championship series the last time the Spurs won it all in 2014.

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