Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James is a smarter target than Kawhi Leonard

The Los Angeles Lakers are star struck and may have to choose between two of the best basketball players on the planet: LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.

LeBron James is a three-time NBA Champion, four-time MVP, a 14-time time all-star (and much more) and is getting put into the legend tier alongside Michael Jordan.

Kawhi Leonard is a one-time NBA Champion, two-time all-star, one-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and is a native of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers could potentially have to make a choice that any general manager in basketball would dream of: go out and get the face of basketball (and right now the second-best player all-time) or go out and get a young, elite two-way player that could win multiple MVPs in the next five years.

LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard. The Los Angeles Lakers simply cannot have them both. While it is possible, the chances that Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson somehow create the best partnership in NBA history is slim.

According to Dan Cancian of Yahoo Sports, James may not sign with the Lakers because of Leonard and his free agency status next summer.

However, LeBron has a home in LA that he spends his offseason in. The Lakers have the cap, the assets and the bright lights that even Miami couldn’t offer him. While Cleveland is his home, Los Angeles opens a wide door of opportunity past his playing days.

There is only so much cap space to spend. The Los Angeles Lakers are going to have to pick one. Here are three reasons why that should be LeBron James.