Doug Gottlieb in for Colin:

Will the Lakers play hardball with the Spurs for Kawhi?

The NBA free agency frenzy starts next week, and this morning news broke that LeBron will opt out of his final year with the Cavs to hit the market. The Lakers are handicapped as the favorite to land James, but need add pieces around him to close the deal.

Given the circumstances, the urgency for the Lakers to make a deal with the Spurs to acquire Kawhi Leonard is greater than ever. Given that Kawhi has effectively eliminated any trade market by saying he’ll only sign a long-term deal with the Lakers, Doug thinks the Lakers hold all the leverage, but they also want to get a deal done.

If they hold the Spurs feet to the fire and show a willingness to walk away from the table, they can give away fewer assets in return. Will Magic play hardball, or will he make a worse deal just to lock up Kawhi to help land LeBron?

Also:

– LeBron isn’t really like the Godfather

– Paul George meeting with D-Wade

Guests:

Gary Washburn – Boston Globe NBA Writer joins the show to talk NBA free agency, and if the Celtics would try to trade for Kawhi.

Caron Butler – 14-year NBA veteran joins the show to talk free agency, and LeBron’s decision.

Ryen Russillo – Host of the Hoop Streams podcast joins the show to survey LeBron’s potential destinations, and why he doesn’t think LeBron is waiting on Paul George.