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Los Angeles Lakers: Team’s trade proposals for Kawhi Leonard ‘unacceptable’

By James Francuz

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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 (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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 (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers will need to step their game up if they want Kawhi Leonard via a trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely active since the calendar flipped to July. Without a doubt, though, their biggest move thus far has been signing LeBron James to a four-year contract.

The move automatically made the Lakers relevant again, which is wonderful. The team has had a rough last few seasons, but James’ presence alone will tone down the blues.

Given that LBJ is now a Laker, many believe another star can further assist the team in their quest to return to NBA glory. That man is dissatisfied San Antonio Spurs forward, Kawhi Leonard.

This should come as no surprise to many because Leonard has been linked to Los Angeles for quite some time. In fact, reports from mid-June suggested that The Claw’s hope is to play in L.A., preferably for the Lakers.

No one can refute the type of talent that Leonard possesses. When healthy, he is by far one of the best two-way players the NBA has to offer. Let alone his ability to average over 20 points a night, the small forward already has two Defensive Player of the Year awards.

In terms of Leonard, his age is important to be aware of as well. At 27, there is no telling what lies ahead. It is plausible to think he may not even be at his peak yet.

However, some would argue it is hard to know that for sure. The 6-foot-7 baller is coming off a major quad injury that had him sidelined throughout most of the season. Because of this factor, how ready Kawhi will be going into 2018-2019 is harder to predict.

This likely explains part of the reason why teams have been hesitant to trade for the Spurs’ face of the franchise. Where his health is at was a mystery all season long and that remains true.

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Thus, while there is no denying Leonard’s abilities, many people are curious if he would be able to fully showcase his skills right off the bat.

The sheer fact that trading for Kawhi would be a gamble sheds light on a recent report from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. Per O’Connor, the offers L.A. have been giving San Antonio have been “underwhelming… while another said they’re flat-out unacceptable.”

It is not that the Lakers do not want Leonard or anything of that nature. Despite that, the purple and gold are probably struggling with the idea of giving up so much for one guy, no matter how good he is. The struggle gets even more real when his 2019 free agency is considered.

Given that No. 2 has already expressed interest in going to the City of Angels, it is easy to wonder: “why not just wait until next summer?”

Sacrificing pieces from the young core and losing future draft picks is a lot to put on the table. Certainly, it is easy to feel, well, uneasy about that. The Lakers’ young core revealed plenty of promise in 2017-2018, so losing a good chunk of that would be tough to swallow.

Now, surrendering depth would give the Lakers a heckuva duo in LeBron-Leonard. It would instantly give L.A. that classic look once again as far as having proven stars on the roster. Moreover, there is a fair chance it would only raise their odds of winning it all next June.

Although that is true, the Lakers’ “unacceptable” offers for Leonard are understandable. Whether he is ready to perform at a superstar level again is difficult to pinpoint. If the Lakers were to make a deal with the Spurs, feeling confident in what Leonard could do would have to be a must.

Accordingly, it makes sense as to why Los Angeles is only willing to go so far in trade discussions. Rumor has it that Kyle Kuzma, whose name has been thrown around in the Leonard hype, will remain a Laker.

Thankfully for L.A., there is not as much weight on their shoulders anymore. James is a Laker, so one superstar is already set in stone.

It would be incredibly nice to get a second one in Hollywood. Sure. Nevertheless, allowing the younger pieces to spend more time together could end up paying off.

Another way of looking at it is this. The Lakers should only trade for the Spurs’ star if it is the best deal for themselves, not San Antonio. Helping San Antonio reconstruct an aging roster would end up aiding the Popovich-led group just as much in the long run.

Next: 4 Reasons To Trade For Kawhi Leonard

Getting Kawhi would be awesome, to say the least. Doing it right now, though, should only be considered if the price tag will not literally drain the Lakers.

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