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#2 Kawhi Leonard to the Lakers
Kawhi Leonard is headed to Los Angeles, just not with the Lakers.
Leonard shook up the league as he decided to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. There is an old saying that states, "If you can't beat them, join them." Leonard disregarded this saying and chose to shake up the league. He signed with the Lakers' Staples Center rival and brought Paul George with him. His decision changes not only the Western Conference but the entire league. But the Lakers were still a possibility.
Since the start of last season, Leonard's free agency was a topic of conversation. The Spurs traded Leonard and Danny Green to the Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Pöltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick. Leonard joined the Raptors and pulled off an incredible feat: he led the Raptors to their first championship in franchise history. Despite winning a championship, some fans and media personalities believed he was leaving. It was only a matter of where.
When the media discussed Leonard's free agency, three teams were mentioned. The Clippers, the Lakers, and the Raptors were the teams tied to Leonard. When he opted out of his deal with the Raptors, the rumors became more prevalent.
Leonard met with each team, and the Lakers seemed like the favorites. They brought in Anthony Davis through a trade with the Pelicans. The Lakers gave up most of their young players but received a star to pair with James. The deal for Davis was a good move, but the Lakers wanted more. The Lakers wanted to bring in another player to create their own "Big Three." This is where Leonard came into the picture.
By all means, Leonard's decision was the best decision. He had the chance to join Davis and James but chose to go elsewhere. His decision makes the league more competitive and makes the Clippers a legitimate threat. However, it would have been interesting to see him along with the new Lakers duo.
