At least one NBA executive believes the Los Angeles Lakers will pursue a trade for Kawhi Leonard this offseason and that he would like to play in the area he grew up.

Leonard would give up an opportunity to sign a supermax contract extension if he decides he wants to leave the Spurs.

“I think they go in hard for Leonard once the season is over and once the dust settles in San Antonio,” one executive told Sporting News. “(Leonard) wants to go to LA. There probably won’t be public demands on that, but he has leverage. He is going to be a free agent (in 2019). He’s an LA guy and he can just let teams know he won’t re-sign next year with anyone but the Lakers.”

The Celtics and 76ers could also put a compelling package together for Leonard.

“I would say that’s the most likely thing,” another general manager told Sporting News. “He’s going to be their target any way you look at it, this summer or next summer. There’s not many other ways to explain what’s been going on with that situation other than him trying to get out of San Antonio.”