Report: Los Angeles Lakers emerge as ‘frontrunners’ for Kawhi

With the New York Times’ Marc Stein reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers are considered “frontrunners” to land Kawhi Leonard this summer, it seems the assumptions of the death of Laker exceptionalism may be premature.

How high is the bar for the Clippers now? They might not only have to beat out Toronto … they might have to convince Kevin Durant to choose the Clippers to then convince Kawhi to choose the Clippers over the Lakers. League sources insist that the Laker threat is that significant

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2019

Should the team actually manage to land the 2019 NBA Champion to complete their triumvirate alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team will be clear favorites to win the 2020 NBA title.

The path there, even with three players many would still call top-five talents in the league, would not be without considerable difficulty though.

The chief concern would be populating the roster with only the league’s room exception (worth about $4.8 million) and minimum contracts. Given the team only has big man Kyle Kuzma and James under contract with Davis’ trade pending, the addition of Leonard would bring the team to nine players short of the league’s mandated minimum of 13 players, eight of which would be limited to minimum deals.

Whether such a top-heavy team could realistically hope to compete for a title would be a significant challenge and can hardly sound ideal to Kawhi after load management helped position him to remain in good health when it mattered most. Add in the first signs of James’ aging — his groin injury likely a result of too many minutes for a player his age — and Davis’ tendency to miss double-digit games each year and you have a very risky situation indeed.

According to USA TODAY’s Sam Amick James and Davis have reportedly made plans to meet with Leonard about coming to the Lakers, despite conflicting reports about Kawhi wanting only owner Jeanie Buss and former team president Magic Johnson at any such meeting.

With the Lakers now expected to land a Kawhi Leonard meeting, a source tells @TheAthletic that LeBron James AND Anthony Davis are planning on being part of the formal pitch.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 28, 2019

League rules may have thrown a wrench in everyone’s plans, however.

While Johnson, James and Davis are all free to contact the San Diego State product about his free agency plans as individuals, only Buss and James can be part of a formal pitch as current Laker employees.

Here’s a quick breakdown: Magic (no longer employed by the Lakers) and Anthony Davis (not yet a Laker) can call, meet, text, FT with Kawhi or other FAs on their own. They just can’t formally represent or be part of Lakers meeting.

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 29, 2019

It’s unclear where this leaves guard Kyrie Irving, who was linked to the team yet again shortly after the Lakers cleared max contract space despite his exit from LeBron’s last team. Nonetheless, whatever happens with Boston’s historic archrivals, the recent dynamic between the team — where the Celtics were perceived to be a head above the Lakers — is assured to be transformed before July really even gets started.