NBA news: Kawhi Leonard Lakers decision, LeBron James revelation, Luke Walton sack update
NBA news is coming in thick and fast and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the very latest.
Kawhi Leonard to Lakers decision
Kawhi Leonard will not join the Los Angeles Lakers next year, according to ESPN.
The small forward can become a free agent next summer, with the Toronto Raptors keen to keep hold of Leonard for the long term.
Leonard was backed to head to LA in the summer, however, the San Antonio Spurs sent the two-time Defensive Player of the Year to Toronto.
And ESPN reckon Leonard is more likely to head to the Los Angeles Clippers over the Lakers next summer, because he doesn’t want to play alongside 'The King' LeBron James.
I don’t want to talk about the word ‘disappointing’, I just think we need to get better
“Rather than seeking to team up with James, the thinking is that Leonard would prefer to have control of his own team, which the Clippers would offer, while still giving him the ability to return to his native Southern California,” ESPN journalist Tim Bontemps wrote.
“The Lakers explored a potential Leonard trade this summer, but the San Antonio Spurs' asking price prevented a deal from ever coming close to fruition.
“The Clippers, meanwhile, have relentlessly pursued Leonard since the summer but didn't have the assets necessary to get a deal done.”
James and the Lakers have had a hit and miss start to the season, with Luke Walton’s men currently 4-6.
LeBron James revelation
LeBron James has hit out at his sluggish Lakers team-mates.
Speaking after their 121-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors, James said: “Second, third and fourth we played Lakers basketball - the first quarter we came out sluggish.
“There are games like this throughout 82 games, where you just don’t have it.
“We had it in spurts, but for the majority of 48 minutes we didn’t have it.
“I don’t want to talk about the word ‘disappointing’, I just think we need to get better.
“There’s a lot of things we could’ve have done better today at the point of attack.
“We allowed them to go wherever they wanted to go, however they wanted to go, and they got into a comfort zone.
“When you get into a comfort one like that, shots are going to fall.”
Luke Walton to be sacked?
Luke Walton could be sacked by the Lakers if they are unable to attract a big name like Leonard, NBA insider Chris Broussard claims.
“Luke is in an incredibly difficult position,” Broussard told The Herd.
“He has to create a culture that is going to attract another superstar free agent. That is where Luke could be in trouble.
“If it gets to a point where they start losing and it gets so big you start to question ‘are we going to make the playoffs?’
“Is that going to attract a Kawhi Leonard? That is when Luke could be in trouble.”
Lakers president Magic Johnson has revealed Walton will only be fired if something drastic happens.
He said: "Yeah, we're not going to fire him.
"[The meeting last week with Walton] wasn't even a meeting about that. We just have to be better, and that was it.
"He is going to finish the season, unless something drastic happens, which it won’t."
NBA results:
Wednesday November 7
Orlando Magic 96-103 Detroit Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers 86-95 Oklahoma City Thunder
Atlanta Hawks 107-112 New York Knicks
Miami Heat 95-88 San Antonio Spurs
New Orleans Pelicans 107-98 Chicago Bulls
Memphis Grizzlies 89-87 Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers 94-100 Philadelphia 76ers
Utah Jazz 117-102 Dallas Mavericks
Sacramento Kings 105-114 Toronto Raptors
Los Angeles Lakers 114-110 Minnesota Timberwolves