The Los Angeles Lakers are not only fighting against the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign their prized free agent LeBron James, but also acting with utmost desperation, knowing what could come down the pipe if San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard hasn't been acquired this offseason.
ESPN's Steven A. Smith said on First Take that the Lakers could be in a bidding war with the L.A. Clippers next offseason for the estranged San Antonio Spurs star, given that both teams are in his preferred landing destination.
“Although the Lakers are his preferred destination, he has no qualms about going to the Clippers if the Clippers were able to pull off something,” said Smith. “Their goal is to be eligible in free agent next year with enough cap space to go after him. If he were to end up a Clipper just to be back in Los Angeles, he would love to be back in Los Angeles. The Lakers are the preference, but he doesn't particularly care whether it is the Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. He just wants to be back in L.A.”
The Lakers have the cap space to take him on, especially if they're trading away some of their pieces to acquire him. Though this becomes a race to see who can reel him in first.
If the purple-and-gold fail to make a deal for Kawhi Leonard before he can opt out of his contract, the Lakers could find themselves competing with their in-house rivals next offseason for the most prized free agent.
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