Kevin Durant: Lakers handed Clippers and Knicks boost over Kawhi Leonard and Durant
KEVIN DURANT will not join the New York Knicks and Kawhi Leonard will only go to the LA Clippers if he pairs up with Durant.
Kevin Durant: No chance he is going to the Knicks says Smith
That’s the good news for the Los Angeles Lakers according to Tracy McGrady.
The Clippers have two max salary slots for the summer of 2019 and according to ESPN reports, are envisioning adding both Leonard and Durant.
Durant has been linked with an exit from the Golden State Warriors after two titles in as many seasons, with Steve Kerr’s side likely to add another championship this year despite an off-colour first quarter of the year.
The back-to-back Finals MVP has also been tipped to move to the Lakers or the Knicks - who are without a title since 1973 - but seven-time All-Star and former Houston Rockets star McGrady does not foresee a switch to the latter.
Leonard, meanwhile, could still look to return to Los Angeles after being sent to the Toronto Raptors in the offseason.
His surprise move to Canada has worked out well so far with the Raptors boasting the best record in the Eastern Conference and looking a possible contender to make the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise’s history.
The Lakers are keen on both Durant and Leonard - though it is claimed the former San Antonio Spurs forward would prefer the Clippers - as they look to add another superstar alongside LeBron James to bolster their championship charge.
Yet McGrady insists Leonard will only go to the Lakers’ close rivals if Durant leaves the Warriors to join him there.
If he goes anywhere, the Clippers is tailor-made for him to be that guy
He told The Jump on ESPN: “The only way as a player that I’m choosing to come to LA as a Clipper is if I’m Kawhi, I have a conversation with KD.
“It’s only if they come together. You look at where Kawhi is with Toronto, we don’t know how it’s going to play out but right now it looks pretty damn good.
“For KD, we hear New York, I don’t see that having any potential with him going there because he wants to win. You don’t want all that pressure.
“He wants to win having us his own team, not being teamed up with Steph Curry. This is a super team. If he goes somewhere else, it’s not a super team.
“If he goes anywhere, the Clippers is tailor-made for him to be that guy.
“Everybody puts an asterix on KD’s two championships which I don’t agree with but to really have a ride as, ‘I did it, my own team, not teaming up with other greats’.”
The Lakers are currently working to trade forward Trevor Ariza in a possible three-way deal with the Phoenix Suns, though the Suns apparently want a play-making guard and a draft asset.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be sent to a third team with a standard two-team trade unlikely with the Lakers unwilling to part with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart.
The Lakers can begin to make moves on Saturday when players who were signed in summer free agency become eligible to be traded.