NBA Free Agency 2019: Kawhi Leonard will reportedly meet with the Los Angeles Lakers

Benyam Kidane

NBA Free Agency 2019: Kawhi Leonard will reportedly meet with the Los Angeles Lakers image

The Los Angeles Lakers continue their quest to form a super team around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with free agent Kawhi Leonard reportedly set to meet with the franchise, per The Los Angeles Times' Brad Turner.

According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, James and Davis also plan to be part of the official pitch when the franchise makes their run at the Finals MVP.


Leonard reportedly made a request to meet with owner Jeannie Buss and former president Magic Johnson, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, however as reported by ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne, Johnson is not permitted to be a part of any official team meetings with free agents after stepping down from his job earlier this year.


"A friend of mine called and says Kawhi wants to meet with you," Johnson told ESPN, per Shelburne. "I said no problem. I'm available if that's what this man wants."

“But I got a great life. I’m not trying to mess with anybody’s job.”

The Lakers were able to create $32 million of cap space for another max slot following Davis declining his $4 million trade kicker and trading Mo Wagner, Jemerrio Jones and Isaac Bonga to the Washington Wizards.

Leonard, who will reportedly decline his $21.3 million player option for 2019-20 to become an unrestricted free agent, will meet with multiple teams in free agency, including the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors. 

Fresh off winning the NBA championship, the Raptors, who will meet with Leonard last, can offer him a five-year, $190 million max deal, while other teams can only offer him four years at $141 million.

Leonard led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship this season, averaging 28.5 points per game in six games against the Golden State Warriors.

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.