Lakers Rumors: Kawhi Leonard wants out of San Antonio

The ongoing Kawhi Leonard saga has taken a new turn and the ensuing Lakers rumors will be very fun to watch. Leonard wants out of San Antonio.

This feels like one of those “well, duh” reports that surface in the midst of the chaotic NBA offseason. Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs have had a tumultuous relationship, which has spawned Lakers rumors as a result.

However, until now, there have been no real reports of the Spurs actively looking to trade Leonard. While it seemed inevitable, it also seemed like this relationship could be fixed with a super max deal.

Obviously, that is not the case as Chris Haynes of ESPN reports that Kawhi Leonard does, in fact, want out of San Antonio. Again, this is news but is not a huge surprise for those that have been following the saga.

The Lakers rumors around Leonard have been strong. They grew more serious when Leonard, who did not attend a single Spurs playoff game, was spotted at a Los Angeles Dodgers game after the Spurs had been eliminated from the playoffs.

Leonard is a Los Angeles native, which also seemingly puts the Los Angeles Clippers in play, among other teams.

However, the Lakers look like the best fit for Leonard, at least in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has a young trio of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma to pick from to make this trade happen. Throw in Luol Deng and the Lakers would be maintaining the massive amount of salary cap space the team has.

Trading for Leonard becomes more likely with the Lakers rumors around LeBron James and Paul George. All signs seem to be pointing to the Lakers adding superstar talent this summer. Adding a top-five player in the NBA, without sacrificing any cap space, is a great start to that process.

Adding James and/or George alongside Leonard would soften the blow of losing one or two young stars. Add in Julius Randle, who the Lakers may re-sign using Bird Rights, and Los Angeles could have four all-stars next season.

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Lakers fans should keep an eye on the Kawhi Leonard saga. With Leonard officially wanting out of San Antonio, a trade to the Lakers has become very likely.