Could LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard team up next year? Sure. Anything’s possible

Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James could theoretically find a way to play on the same team next season. On Sports Nation, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst foreshadowed that things could get “a little crazy” this summer depending on how the playoffs shook out, suggesting that the two superstars’ fates are intertwined in some way.

With the Spurs down 2-0 to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs, and little hope for a comeback, fans have already begun to discuss Leonard’s future in San Antonio. Leonard’s played just nine games this season after suffering quad and shoulder injuries. Though he’s been cleared medically to play, he and his camp don’t feel he’s ready to return, and a feud between the star and the organization is obvious.

Has Leonard played his last game under Gregg Popovich? How is teaming up with LeBron even possible?

You can watch the video in full here, but it’s partially transcribed below:

Windhorst: The Los Angeles Lakers should be having meetings right now about what trade up package they’re going to offer the Spurs the day after the Spurs’ season is over, which could be shortly.

Cari Champion: Why?

Windhorst: There’s more ways to get players than free agency. You can trade for them.

Leonard could force their hand. He has just one year left on his contract, if he waives his 2019-20 player option. The Spurs will be forced to either trade him for something, or lose him for nothing after next year if they can’t amend their issues from this season.

That gives Leonard power in choosing his next team. He could scare would-be trade suitors off from by declining to promise a contract extension, much like Paul George from last summer with the Pacers.

Of course, Oklahoma City took the plunge and traded for George anyway, so that method isn’t foolproof.

More from Windhorst:

Champion: Are you saying Kawhi and LeBron want to play together?

Windhorst: If the Cavs get knocked out before the Finals, and LeBron has six weeks to think about things and get in touch with Kawhi. Things could get a little crazy.

This is vague, but let’s unpack this a little more.

James has even more power than Leonard this summer, because he is already in the final year of his contract and has a player option. He can go wherever he pleases as a free agent, and has additional maneuvers he can swing if the team he wants to play for doesn’t have the cap space for him.

For example, he can pull a move similar to what Chris Paul did to get to Houston. He can opt into his player option to be traded onto his team of choice if they’re without cap space. That team could be the one that’s already traded for Kawhi. Or, LeBron could go first and a Kawhi trade could follow.

The options are infinite for LeBron’s future, so he could follow Leonard wherever he goes.

Not that we know of. Windhorst was not reporting that this was going to happen. He was just stating a hypothetical.

Yes, a scary one. Though it’s still important to remember that he didn’t report this was in the works.

Windhorst: Think about Philadelphia for a second. I could construct you a way that Philadelphia could trade for Kawhi Leonard and sign LeBron James. That possibility exists.

The 76ers have cap space and could entice LeBron further by trading any non-Ben Simmons/Joel Embiid piece for Leonard.

After the chaos that was the 2017 offseason, anything is possible.