The Los Angeles Lakers need to do a lot of research if they are to beat their NBA rivals to the signature of Kawhi Leonard in free agency next summer.
That’s the suggestion from one Eastern Conference vice president speaking to Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher.
The Toronto Raptors took the gamble to trade for Leonard last week, but there are several rumours suggesting he will look to leave when he becomes a free agent.
The Lakers have been heavily linked but the Eastern Conference vice president suggests several other teams will be aiming to sign him and lists exactly what they will need to do.
“Figure out what the rules allow you to do, get up against that line and then push it,” he said.
“Find out what he doesn’t like, what his fears are, what will make him happy. That goes for travel, on the court and off the court.
“What is most important to him? Who does he want to play with? What does the wife need? What do the kids need? What are those business opportunities locally that you can extend to that player?
“The money is not going to be great, but depending on the market, it could move the needle. All these things matter. You might not think they matter, but they do.”
Kevin Durant could look to join up with LeBron James next summer, meaning Kawhi Leonard will unlikely sign.
That’s the suggestion from Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless, who believes Durant teaming up with James at the Lakers will be the perfect “storybook ending” for both players.
“What if Kevin Durant says ‘we’ve won another championship… ok that’s pretty great.’ And then he says ‘I’ve got two homes in the Los Angeles area, I’m going to join my friend LeBron James and we’re going to win a championship.’
“Would that not be a storybook ending for both of them?”
The Boston Celtics have signed Jabari Bird after serving as a two-way player last season.
Bird featured in 13 games during his rookie season with the Celtics, scoring a career-high 15 points against the Chicago Bulls in April.
He impressed at the 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 16.8 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 57 per cent from the field.