With Kawhi Leonard reportedly wanting out of San Antonio, teams around the NBA are taking a long look at their respective rosters. While the Los Angeles Lakers are believed to be the favorites to land his services, the L.A. Clippers may have the better trade package to offer San Antonio.
Analysts' eyes immediately flocked to the Lakers' way since they have one of the best young cores in the NBA. They could easily concoct a package in exchange for Leonard. However, it seems that the Lakers are not willing to disassemble their young core at this point in time. Given this fact, they don't have many assets that they can offer. The Lakers do not even have a lottery pick in this year's draft.
Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times states in a report that the among the teams in LA, the Clippers have the upper hand:
The Clippers have more to offer than the Lakers. They would be willing to create a package with forward Tobias Harris and the 12th or 13th pick in this year’s draft, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly.
In addition, the Lakers do not seem intent on trading players as they gear up for a major splash in free agency this year or in 2019:
The Lakers have spent the past year and a half hoarding salary cap space for free agency in 2018 and 2019, giving themselves the flexibility to build a championship roster. Right now they have the cap space to add two maximum contracts. It will be difficult for them to add two max contracts and re-sign forward Julius Randle without clearing more cap space.
Given all these assumptions, it seems that the Battle in Los Angeles would be won by the Clippers, that is if the Spurs think that's enough.
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