The Los Angeles Clippers, when it was announced that Kawhi Leonard would be out for the foreseeable future, were written off in the crowded Western Conference. While they haven’t been world-beaters, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac have kept the Clippers afloat, leading them to a 14-11 record and the sixth seed in the West.
Once Leonard comes back (and it looks like he’s getting closer), the Clippers are expected to continue their unlikely surge and enter the upper echelon of the conference. However, Leonard has proven to be unreliable and delicate during his tenure with the Clippers, and owner Steve Balmer, who is desperate to win, might want to bring a marquee star to his franchise.
With murmurings that LeBron James could be made available, the chances that he gets sent to the crosstown rival Clippers is unlikely, but if the Los Angeles Lakers can get a solid return, they might be interested in swapping the face of their franchise.
The Clippers could offer Leonard and a 2031 first-round pick swap to the Lakers for LeBron and Bronny James, who are expected to be a package deal.
When healthy, Leonard is the better player on both ends of the floor at this point in James’ career, but health is a factor, especially in the midst of a playoff run. By the spring, James will be 40 years old but has proven to be more reliable than Leonard. A starting five of Harden, Kris Dunn, James, Powell and Zubac would be dangerous, and the Clippers would be able to keep Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, Nicolas Batum and Derrick Jones Jr. on the bench as depth pieces.
The Lakers, meanwhile, get the printer defender they’ve been looking for, and if he’s healthy, Leonard would immediately create the best defensive duo in the NBA with Davis, and Los Angeles could flip draft picks and D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract for a facilitator to help orchestrate the offense.