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Lakers Rumors: Trade talks happening with the Denver Nuggets

By Kenneth Teape

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors report that the team is engaged in trade talks with the Denver Nuggets to add more assets in a package for Kawhi Leonard.

Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors have revolved around San Antonio Spurs superstar, Kawhi Leonard. Prying Leonard from the Spurs will not be an easy task.

San Antonio prefers to not trade Leonard to a Western Conference team. The Spurs even shut the door on the Lakers when they first called, but that didn’t stop them. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka re-engaged the Spurs in trade talks earlier this week.

The Lakers are being aggressive in pursuit of a trade with the Spurs because of the hesitancy their other targets, LeBron James and Paul George, seem to be showcasing. No one wants to be the first to commit to Los Angeles.

However, if Leonard was already in the fold, it would ease their concerns. According to reports, landing Leonard would essentially clinch James joining the Lakers as well.

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Los Angeles is doing what they can to land Leonard from the Spurs. They reportedly have a Godfather offer on the table for San Antonio, hoping to force the Spurs’ hand.

There has not been a report of what the Godfather offer was. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Lakers offered a package of Brandon Ingram and a future first-round pick. San Antonio balked at that offer, wanting more young players or picks.

With that news, more Lakers rumors have emerged. Instead of sitting by idly and hoping the Spurs cave, Los Angeles is being proactive. According to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post, the Lakers are in trade talks with the Denver Nuggets.

Los Angeles is hoping to land another draft pick to sweeten the deal for the Spurs. To get that, they will have to take on some of the contracts that the Nuggets are trying to shed. Bontemps mentions Darrell Arthur, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried as potential players in the deal.

"In an attempt to sweeten the pot, multiple sources said the Lakers and Denver Nuggets are discussing a potential deal that would see Los Angeles take back bad money for a draft pick. The Nuggets, who will be deep into the luxury tax after re-signing restricted free agent center Nikola Jokic next month, have about $34 million in expiring contracts for Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur and Wilson Chandler to send out in possible deals."

This is an interesting route for the Lakers to be taking. They have a bad contract of their own in Luol Deng that they are trying to unload. Adding $34 million in salary would also drastically change their plans for free agency this summer. The main goal, though, would be getting that extra draft pick to send to San Antonio.

At this point, the Lakers seem all-in on trying to land Kawhi Leonard. Taking on $34 million in salary this season would be a tough pill to swallow. However, they are all expiring as Bontemps points out, so the Lakers could be players in free agency again next summer.

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This will be a situation to keep an eye on in the coming days. The Lakers long-standing plan of landing superstars this offseason could hinge on trading for Leonard.

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