NBA news: Lakers to make DOUBLE signing this weekend, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard plea
NBA NEWS - Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Trevor Ariza and Anthony Davis dominate the latest rumours and gossip coming out of the league.
Kevin Durant: No chance he is going to the Knicks says Smith
Lakers to make double signing
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to sign Trevor Ariza THIS WEEKEND.
The Lakers have been locked in talks with the Phoenix Suns over Ariza - and the Philadelphia 76ers have now emerged as the third team in a shock trade deal.
Basketball Society reckon the Lakers will receive Ariza from the Suns and Shake Milton from the 76ers.
The Suns will acquire Markelle Fultz from the 76ers, who will in turn get Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a future first-round pick from the Lakers.
He basically said ‘you don’t want to go run with LeBron James'
“Per a league source, the Philadelphia 76ers could serve as the third team in the potential Lakers-Phoenix Suns trade centred on Ariza,” Basketball Society say. “Per source, the Lakers are mulling around the idea of giving up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a future first-round pick.
“In this trade scenario, the Suns will part ways with Ariza and the Philadelphia 76ers will offer Markelle Fultz and Shake Milton.
“In the rumoured three-way deal, Trevor Ariza and Shake Milton will head to the Los Angeles Lakers, with Markelle Fultz joining the Phoenix Suns.
“Rounding out the deal, the Sixers will acquire Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a future first-round pick.”
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard claim
Kevin Durant urged Kawhi Leonard to join him at the Los Angeles Clippers instead of the Lakers, NBA expert Jalen Rose claims.
“He was doing a soft-sell to Kawhi Leonard through the media,” Rose said of Durant’s rant about the environment surrounding LeBron James at the Lakers being toxic.
“He basically said 'you don’t want to go run with LeBron James'. That atmosphere is toxic, too many media members hanging around and fanboys cheering for him.
“‘You want to come run with me’.
“I’ve got breaking news, every team in the NBA wants KD and Kawhi Leonard to play on it.
“You have two of the top five players int he game. We’ve seen what KD can do alongside other great players - Russell Westbrook and now with the Golden State Warriors.
“Kawhi has shown to be a transcendent player.
“This would be a game-changing move for the Clippers and now catapults them into the conversation of the best.”
Anthony Davis trade revelation
The Lakers will not look to land a top free agent next summer, they’re more likely to trade for Anthony Davis, Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher claims.
“It’s a matter of the players that are available and part of the challenge is they are all guys… Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant - these are all ball-handling forwards who can play either position,” Bucher said on The Dan Patrick Show.
“That’s essentially what LeBron is there’s a duplication there and not to say that duplication doesn’t work.
“But for where these guys are is it ideal? No it’s not ideal. So I believe that ultimately the guy that the Lakers get to fill that spot isn’t necessarily going to be a free agent.
“Maybe it’s a Khris Middleton, no offence to Khris but sort of that second-tier guy who would step in and sign as a free agent.
“But if they’re going to get the big name and Anthony Davis is the name that’s out there the most and certainly the Klutch agency that LeBRon is part of also represents AD and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
“The DNA of Klutch and the Lakers has been synthesised now. They’re making a deal for an AD.
“I’m not reporting anything or suggesting something has been discussed but I see it more likely that they trade away some of that young talent and get an Anthony Davis than I see them just outright signing a free agent.”