Pressure is mounting for Lakers front office to execute a trade with Spurs to acquire Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard became Lakers’ main target in the offseason considering that Paul George may re-sign with OKC and LeBron is unlikely to be the first free agent to decide his future.

Per ESPN, pressure is mounting for the Lakers front office to execute a trade with the San Antonio Spurs to acquire disgruntled All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, league sources told ESPN.

Although the Lakers came away feeling like San Antonio "shut the door on us" and the conversation never progressed or included a formal trade offer, the Spurs haven't ruled out sending Leonard to any destination, league sources said.

The price for Leonard would be substantial. The Lakers could have to surrender a combination of former first-round picks -- from Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart -- and future first-round picks and perhaps restricted free agent Julius Randle in a sign-and-trade agreement.

The Lakers have expressed a willingness to teams to take on 2018-19 salary for the chance to secure a future first-round pick, league sources said. That pick could be used to sweeten a prospective trade opportunity.
The Spurs could also push the Lakers to take an unappealing contract off their books.