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San Antonio Spurs: Lakers being open for business raises an eyebrow

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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If the Los Angeles Lakers are open for business, what does this mean for a potential trade with the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard?

The Los Angeles Lakers, due to Kawhi Leonard’s Southern California origins, have made them a popular trade candidate for the San Antonio Spurs star. Whether or not the Silver and Black actually move him remains to be seen.

Well, if the Lakers and Spurs were to team up for a Leonard transaction this offseason, the former may be open to anything and anyone. That’s according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, who said Los Angeles is willing to listen to offers on its young core of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram or Josh Hart.

One would think one or two of those players work their way into a Leonard offer. Any of Ball, Kuzma or Ingram could at least lead a deal, with Hart as a second piece and draft picks involved.

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However, if the Lakers want to wait for the 2019 offseason, they can use those assets towards a different superstar, à la Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Then, they can build a multi-star team instead of just Leonard and work from there.

For the Spurs, the chance to get a top young asset from the Lakers would put their retooling in the right direction, if it gets to that. How much more they can get beyond one player from that group remains to be seen, as Leonard has just one year left on his contract and the quadriceps questions that will linger into the 2018-19 season.

But, if the Lakers are open for business and decide they can’t wait until July 2019, it opens up discussions for a blockbuster trade and gives the Spurs a main organization to talk to. That’s if it gets anywhere, with no guarantee of Leonard’s departure this offseason.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: After the lottery

Does this make the Lakers an even more likely suitor? Or is this just the latest grain of salt in the wild rumor kill?

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