Report: Kawhi Leonard determined to join LeBron with Lakers
LeBron James has officially joined the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year deal, and it sounds as if it is only a matter of time before he and Kawhi Leonard are teammates.
Shortly after LeBron’s agency broke the news of James signing with the Lakers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Leonard remains focused on playing for L.A.
Sources: As trade talks have unfolded, Kawhi Leonard’s focus is unchanged: He wants to be a Laker. https://t.co/0wZGf5MrNt
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018
Leonard wants out of San Antonio, and there have been some questions about whether he wants to play with James. Apparently he does, and he is set to become a free agent after next season if the Spurs don’t trade him sooner.
The Spurs are said to have a massive price tag attached to Leonard at the moment, but that could change as the offseason progresses. If Leonard is committed to leaving San Antonio and tells all teams besides the Lakers that he is not going to sign a long-term extension, the Spurs won’t have much leverage. It’s also possible — if not likely — that James and Leonard have spoken, and Leonard’s future plans may have had an impact on LeBron’s decision.