Report: Kawhi Leonard Said to Want LeBron-Like Influence With Lakers

There’s a huge possibility that Kawhi Leonard signs with the Los Angeles Lakers. Well, there’s also a chance that he comes with special requests. Is the Raptors star trying to get a LeBron-like treatment?

Leonard wants to bring his own trainers and medical professionals in Los Angeles.

Broderick Turner of the L.A. Times went on Spectrum Sportsnet and explained that Leonard met with Magic Johnson privately to determine how badly the team wanted him while Magic was part of the front office.

“There was one interesting question (Leonard) had for Magic: ‘Did you guys try to trade for me when I was in San Antonio?’” Turner said. “And the answer was ‘yes, but because it was Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, and our history, they were asking for 2,000 draft picks — well, not 2,000 — like four draft picks, first-round draft picks, and we just couldn’t do that.’ And that was one of his questions.”

Turner said that Leonard would also try to bring in his own medical team.

LeBron James was able to bring on his own trainer, his own medical people,” Turner added. “(Kawhi) wants to know if he can do that as well. LeBron James brought on some people that weren’t with the Lakers, and he wants to know ‘can I bring with a couple of my guys?’ … And as far as I know, the Lakers would be willing to do that, because you do those things for superstar players.”

Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson probably contacted Magic Johnson, too. Are the Lakers ready to Kawhi whatever he asks for?

“The uncle’s questions were ‘what’s really going on in the organization between you, Jeanie, Rob Pelinka, everyone? Is it as dysfunctional as we’re reading and hearing?’” Turner said. “And the response was ‘we had some issues, but we’re past that. I’m past that. We’re still a family, such as you fight with your brothers and sisters sometimes, well, I had somewhat of a disagreement with my sister.

“And Rob Pelinka, yes, I said he was a back-stabber, but that happened then. Now I want the Lakers to be a championship team. Having Kawhi here would do that.”

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