According to recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors, the team has reportedly made a Godfather offer to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors in recent days have revolved around the prospect of landing Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. There have been plenty of Lakers rumors throughout the offseason, but they have really picked up in recent days.
With the deadline for player options for 2018-19 near, the Lakers have begun feeling pressure on the trade front. Landing Leonard in a trade prior to free agency would make the Lakers rest a little easier knowing they already have one superstar in hand. However, San Antonio is not making it easy.
Los Angeles re-engaged the Spurs in trade talks Wednesday after being previously shut down. It is a smart move on the Lakers part. They do not want a repeat of last year with Paul George. Los Angeles has an incentive to make a deal for Leonard sooner than later, as well.
According to reports, there is some hesitancy from LeBron James to be the first player to sign with the Lakers. Having another superstar in place would ease some of his concerns. However, if the Lakers were able to land Leonard in a deal, it has been reported that it would essentially clinch James signing in Los Angeles.
As a result, the Lakers have upped their efforts to land Leonard in a trade. According to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports, the Lakers have done that in the form of a Godfather offer.
A Godfather offer is making an offer that someone can’t refuse. It is from the Francis Ford Coppola movie, The Godfather. In this instance, it refers to a trade package that the Lakers are putting together that they believe the Spurs will have no choice but to accept.
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As Amick reports, that offer could make other teams wary of submitting trade proposals. While a team like the Boston Celtics may have more assets than the Lakers, they may not be able to convince Leonard to remain with them long-term.
What a Godfather offer from the Lakers could consist of is anyone’s guess. Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma are most likely involved in any trade talks involving Leonard. Just those two alone wouldn’t be enough to be considered a Godfather offer. It is possible that Josh Hart and future first-round picks are also involved in the deal.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers are willing to include Ingram and a future first-round pick in a package for Leonard. That would be a coup for the Lakers, but San Antonio isn’t biting. Wojnarowski adds that the Spurs are seeking a bigger haul with more young players and picks.
Next: 4 Reasons To Trade For Kawhi Leonard
The clock is ticking on Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to make a move. If the Lakers are unable to pry Leonard from San Antonio, it could drastically alter their free agency this summer.