The Celtics and the Lakers are reportedly in trade talks with the Spurs centered on Kawhi Leonard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Now, we all know that Leonard, who can become a free agent next summer, wants to play for the Lakers and most likely will not give a team like the Celtics any sort of assurance of him staying beyond the coming season. That led every single user on twitter.com to raise an interesting thought:
I’m convinced Danny doesn’t really want to deal for Kawhi. He just wants to drive the price up so high that it bankrupts the Lakers.
— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) June 28, 2018
Theory: Ainge is smart and won't give up a lot for Kawhi, but Spurs want to pump up Celtics' assets as leverage to get more from Lakers, and Ainge is happy to play his part in forcing the Lakers to give up more.
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) June 28, 2018
theres no way the celtics are actually interested in leonard and they're just doing this to screw the lakers into giving up lonzo, right???
— 🦖 ryan lambert 🦕 (@twolinepass) June 28, 2018
I have the suspicion that the Celtics are just tryna stick it to their old rival the Lakers by driving up the price for Kawhi Leonard.
— WHO DID THEY MISS!!!!! (@Freak_Ke) June 28, 2018
It feels lik SA is just using our treasure chest against the lakers to extract more from MagicjohnsonfromPhallicname, which I'm more than happy for them to do
— LIFELONG PELICANS FAN MAN 69☭ (@Riffs_Man) June 28, 2018
The Celtics could easily offer the moon, and more than any other team. If they really want Kawhi, I think they’ll get him. I’m starting to believe Ainge wants to drive up the price for the Lakers.
— joon lee (@joonlee) June 28, 2018
what ifffff....., the celtic just drive up a price ?
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) June 28, 2018
In all seriousness, everyone arrived at this thought for a reason: The Celtics don't need to trade for Kawhi. The Lakers might need to in order to land LeBron James. The Lakers, should they end up with a trio of James, Kawhi and Paul George, would be a threat to the Celtics' title hopes in the coming seasons. It would be in the Celtics' best interests to do whatever they can to weaken that supporting cast.