Update: According to Tania Ganguli of the LA Times, the Lakers have not offered Brandon Ingram in any deals thus far. It was also reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Ingram was a player the Spurs covet in trade discussions. However, the two teams were still in the “conceptual” stage of the process.
Update: According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are willing to trade third-year forward Brandon Ingram and a future first-round pick in a package for Spurs’ star Kawhi Leonard. San Antonio, however, is hoping for a larger collection of assets from LA.
Original Story Follows:
The offseason is fully underway and the Los Angeles Lakers are at the center of it. The team has been in the middle of LeBron James and Paul George free agency rumors while also attempting to trade for disgruntled star Kawhi Leonard.
While it originally seemed as though the San Antonio Spurs would not do business with the Lakers, things may be shifting with the Lakers’ reported pressure to make a trade happen soon.
In fact, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Spurs are “fully engaged” in trade negotiations for the forward, with the Lakers and Celtics among those making calls.
The Spurs are fully engaged in trade talks with several teams on Kawhi Leonard, including the Lakers and Celtics, league sources tell ESPN. Boston has long had the assets that the Spurs most covet in a potential Leonard trade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2018
Leonard has made it clear he wants to play in Los Angeles – preferably the Lakers – and any team trading for the star would risk losing him in one year when he becomes a free agent. The Spurs originally planned to repair their relationship with Leonard but according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, they are now more than willing to move him.
This doesn't guarantee Kawhi Leonard is going to the Lakers this week — since San Antonio could always trade him elsewhere and/or drag things out — but league sources say of the Spurs: "They're ready" to move on from Kawhi
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 28, 2018
There will be other suitors (like the Celtics who have myriad young players and picks that could be traded) for Leonard and their calls will be made public to put more pressure on the Lakers offering a grand package for the former defensive player of the year. It’s now a war for leverage as the two sides attempt to come to an agreement.
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