The Los Angeles Lakers appear to still be in attack mode despite completing two beneficial deals in free agency.
While it’s a long shot, the Ringer’s Bill Simmons tossed around the idea of the Lakers and Clippers swapping aging superstar forwards before the start of the 2025-26 season.
“What about Kawhi (Leonard) for LeBron (James)," Simmons said Wednesday.
“They both get to stay in LA, little change of scenery for each. If you are the Lakers, you get out of this weird LeBron situation.”
“I don’t know if it changes your destiny that much, but at least it resets whose team it is.”
Leonard, like James, is likely nearing the end of his career.
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The 34-year-old six-time All-Star has been riddled with injuries lately. Still, individuals should commend the San Diego State product for fighting his way back onto the hardwood this past season.
After rehabbing a knee injury and missing the first 34 games of the 2024-25 campaign, Leonard returned to the Clippers’ lineup on Jan. 4 against the Atlanta Hawks.
With Leonard, a simplistic pull-up jump shot heavy offensive threat who utilizes his physical gifts to serve as a defensive disruptor, the Clippers earned the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
Although the Denver Nuggets sent Los Angeles home in the first round, Leonard returned to his dominant playoff ways following a disappointing 2024 postseason showing.
The two-time NBA champion averaged 25 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 53.7% from the field and 40.5% from three-point land.
Considering rumors are suggesting James and the Lakers could go their separate ways this summer, trading for Leonard would be an underrated option for the organization.
With Leonard having slightly more juice left in the tank than James, Los Angeles could experiment with a Leonard-Luka Doncic pairing for several seasons.
Simmons’ trade idea will get the public talking, at the least.
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