NBA Rumors: Kawhi 'Won't Be Happy As LeBron's Sidekick' In Lakers

LeBron James Kawhi Leonard — LeBron James handles the ball against Kawhi Leonard in the second half during the NBA All-Star Game 2016 at the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 14, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario. Elsa/Getty Images

Despite being strongly linked with the Los Angeles Lakers, league experts claimed that Kawhi Leonard “will not be happy” playing sidekick to LeBron James in LA.

Half of the NBA is just about moments away from free agency, and speculations of whether 2019 NBA Finals MVP will re-sign with the Toronto Raptors or not is spreading all over the internet. But what seems to be a bigger news these past few days is the Kawhi to Lakers rumor that has got the NBA community buzzing.

Shortly after the Lakers sealed the Anthony Davis deal, the team has been reportedly looking for a third star. The latest is that LA is currently working out some cap space for another max level player. Among the top prospects in the free agency list, Kawhi andK Kyrie Irving are the two top candidates mentioned.

As the news progresses, league sources have come to an assumption that the two-time Finals MVP will not be pleased to play for the Lakers as a “sidekick” of LeBron James.

In a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Bomani Jones discussed the Kawhi-Lakers issue and have speculated that it would not make much sense for Kawhi to play for the Lakers now that the team already cemented its top two stars.

Jones said that Leonard will definitely be a third option or a sidekick because that is the only room for the Lakers at this point. He even pointed that no matter how big of a star a player is, if he’s going to play with LeBron, he will be the superstar’s sidekick.

The radio host suggests that Kawhi should just re-sign with the Raptors and stay with the team for a couple more years.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, March 4, 2019. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

If Kawhi is being viewed as a sidekick for LeBron in LA, there is a great chance that it would not be the same case in New York. That is if the Knicks will be able to finally close a deal with Kevin Durant.

According to Daily Knicks, Leonard and Durant have discussed a potential team-up in free agency and apparently, the most likely destinations the two have in mind are the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks.