The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the better teams in the Western Conference and boast a 19-9 Record following their loss to the Phoenix Suns. However, the team could use an additional boost to strengthen its roster.
FanSided’s Josh Cornellisen has proposed a blockbuster trade between the Lakers, Clippers, and the Brooklyn Nets that would pair Kawhi Leonard with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Lakers receive: Kawhi Leonard.
Clippers receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2030 first-round pick swap (LAL)
Nets receive: Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, 2032 Lakers second-round pick.
Several superstars could be on the move, notably Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, it’s not hard to see the Clippers moving on from Leonard if things continue to get worse. The Clippers are currently one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, with a record of 8-22 on the season.
The Clippers could opt out of the Leonard contract, which has three years remaining and is worth $149 million, sending him to a Lakers team looking to compete for a top spot in the Western Conference by adding Leonard, giving them another dynamic scorer to pair with James and Doncic. Parting ways with Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent, along with the Lakers’ first-round pick swap, sending them to the Clippers, helping them kick off a rebuild.
Despite injuries throughout his career, Leonard has shown he can still play at a high level. Adding him to a Lakers team that currently has the worst defense in the NBA would make them a more complete and competitive squad. The Lakers are rolling out a potential lineup that includes Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, giving them one of the most versatile starting lineups in basketball.
