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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking potential superstar duos for 2018

By Jason Reed

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on late in the fourth quarter while playing the Indiana Pacers in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 105-101 to win there series. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on late in the fourth quarter while playing the Indiana Pacers in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 105-101 to win there series. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 30: Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James

The Golden State Warriors set the bar for superstar duos with Kevin Durant and Steph Curry leading the charge. The Los Angeles Lakers would not only be matching Golden State’s duo, the team would be raising the stakes completely.

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LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard are both top-five players in the NBA and arguably could be the two favorites to win the award at any given season. Both are in the elite tier status that Durant, Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are in. They are the cream of the crop.

And this is nothing against Paul George. It is just that these two could probably join a division two college team and carry them to the NBA Playoffs if not the NBA Finals. George struggled while playing alongside an elite player in Westbrook. Granted, though, Westbrook is very hard to play with.

The craziest thing about this superstar duo is that it is easily obtainable. First things first, the Lakers can trade for Leonard for a package including Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart/Kyle Kuzma (or 2-3 draft picks) and Luol Deng.

Not only are the Lakers trading for Leonard, they are actually opening up $4 million in cap space. This is enough to sign LeBron to a max deal, re-sign Julius Randle and bring in a depth center like Nerlens Noel.

Then, the Lakers starting five would be any iteration including Lonzo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel/Kyle Kuzma.

Next: The Lakers biggest competitors for Paul George

The team has a bench, they have the best starting five in basketball and they have the potential to get LeBron at least three more rings before he retires to surpass Kobe Bryant and match Michael Jordan. Lakers fans may not want to hear that for Kobe’s sake, but this team would be special.

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