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Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Why Kawhi Leonard will never be a Laker

By Jason Reed

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 3: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors after missing a foul shot against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on January 3, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 3: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors after missing a foul shot against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on January 3, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The Los Angeles Clippers are a much better fit for Kawhi Leonard

This is going to pain some Laker fans to hear and is going to be hard to admit for any fan that is hoping Leonard will be a Laker but the Lakers are not the best team in Los Angeles for Kawhi Leonard. If you look at the situations of both teams, the Clippers are obviously much better for Leonard.

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First and foremost, the team is better this year despite having far less star power. Part of that is because the Lakers had a slew of injuries but that does not take away from the fact that the Clippers have drastically overperformed in a year that was deemed a throwaway year.

Los Angeles has the cap space to lure two stars in, with Leonard being the top choice with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both tied to the New York Knicks. The Clippers do not even need to use both cap slots right away, either.

The Clippers have a core that will move forward but it will serve as a bit of a clean slate for Leonard to join the team and have the front office build around his skill set, not the other way around where you are jamming Leonard into an offense that might not suit him.

He has the young guards in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson to look forward to while having Lou Williams off the bench, Montrezl Harrell (who has really come into his own) and the newest addition (and former Laker), Ivica Zubac.

The Clippers can really go any direction with that cap space. They could add size, add shooting, perhaps they re-sign Patrick Beverley and attempt to go with a defensive juggernaut. Jerry West and company will do whatever fits best around Kawhi Leonard.

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How is that not a much more intriguing situation for a guy that might want to play close to home? On the other hand, there are the Lakers, who have quite frankly been a disaster this season.

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