LeBron James proved against the Los Angeles Clippers he’s still capable of performing at a superstar level.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Clippers 103-88, James had arguably his top game of the 2025-2026 campaign. He finished the night with 36 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals on 53.6% shooting and 3 of 7 shooting from three-point range.
Luka Dončić had one of his worst outings of the year, while Austin Reaves remains sidelined, which left James to carry the load on his own. This could tempt the Lakers to seek even more star power.
Lakers Predicted To Land Kawhi Leonard
The Clippers’ season is not going as expected despite the win over the No. 4-seeded Lakers. They are the No. 13 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 7-21, as everyone in the Clippers’ rotation outside of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard is underachieving. This could pave the way for the Clippers to kickstart a rebuild at this year’s trade deadline.
FanSided’s Josh Cornelissen predicts the following blockbuster trade could take place between the Lakers, Clippers, and Brooklyn Nets:
Lakers receive: Kawhi Leonard
Clippers receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2030 first-round pick swap (LAL)
Nets receive: Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, 2032 Lakers second-round pick
Given how many teams are placing their focus on potentially acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Davis, it’s not impossible to imagine the Lakers landing Leonard for so little. While all of the players L.A. is sending out are contributors, none compare to the 34-year-old All-Star.
Although Leonard has not appeared in more than 70 games since 2017, he remains a premier two-way player when on the floor. He is averaging 25.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on 47.8% shooting in 18 appearances this season.
The two-time NBA champion has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $149 million contract, which is ideal for a Lakers team looking to build for the future around Dončić once James calls it a career.
A ‘Big Four’ of Dončić, James, Leonard, and Reaves would create a formidable opponent in the West.
This is by far the worse thing that could happen to the Lakers franchise. Kawhi for half the team? He don’t even play 3/4 of a season when he’s healthy. How about a trade for LeBron instead, for some players who actually play defense
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Why would they want a player who just want to get a check and not play?
I agree who wants that guy
He sits on the bench more than he plays. and I don’t want to give up Rui Hachimura.
Bad trade..Kawhi is a liability and can never stay healthy. Probably playing now so he can get traded just to sit out games that the CLIPPERS got tired of him and he’s worn out his welcome.
Clickbait article what a waste of time
Give up four young players with a lot of upside for kawhi Leonard? No thanks