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)
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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Los Angeles Lakers
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3. Kawhi Leonard is young

Most, if not all of Laker Nation is hoping the purple and gold signs, Lebron James, this summer. Although doing so, along with signing Paul George, would almost certainly make the Lakers instant title contenders, it is not an ideal situation.

That is because Lebron will turn 34 next season, and it is almost impossible to predict how many more elite seasons he has left in him. There is always the risk that a player of Lebron’s age who has the kind of mileage he has suddenly falls of the cliff, as Kobe Bryant did when he ruptured his Achilles in April 2013 at age 34.

Leonard, on the other hand, will turn 27 in late June. Assuming he has fully recovered from his quadriceps tendinopathy, or whatever type of injury he actually had, and assuming he avoids major injury the rest of the way, Leonard could provide the Lakers with at least 6-8 years of elite level play. This would give the Lakers a long championship window, and possibly the chance to not only win one title but to win multiple titles.