Besides LeBron James, another NBA star that was linked to the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason was Kawhi Leonard. That move, however, did not materialize.

Leonard stated straight away after handing in his trade request with the San Antonio Spurs that he wanted to be traded to Los Angeles, to either the Lakers or the Clippers.

Instead, the Spurs sent Kawhi to the Toronto Raptors alongside Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl, and a protected 2019 first round draft pick.

The Lakers likely would have had to give up one of their young players in order to acquire Leonard from the Spurs. Instead, they opted to keep their talent and see if they can land him in 2019 instead as a free agent.

LeBron could have easily used his position on the team and request Los Angeles to make a trade for Kawhi, but he chose not to. He revealed why during a recent interview with ESPN.

He said: "Because I love the young guys that they have and I'm not trying to force my hand in no way, shape or form.

"I believe Rob and Magic and Jeanie have done an unbelievable job of kind of reshaping what the organization should be in the last few years and keeping Dr. [Jerry] Buss and his dreams and what he was all about, to keep that going.

"So I feel like they know what's best for the team, and I wanted to be a piece to kind of continue that motion on coming back and being back to a championship franchise where they should be."

Another option the Lakers could have signed this offseason is Paul George. However, the man himself decided that because he liked the Oklahoma City Thunder so much, he decided to stay there and sign a new deal.

Despite not having George as a teammate, James is happy for him, as he said: "I think Paul did what was best for him. I think that's what everybody should do as players.

"They should do what's best for them and their family. They shouldn't get too pressured by anybody."

If things don't go right for James with a team of the likes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, as well as several vets, the Lakers could still have a chance to sign Leonard in free agency in 2019.

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