Toronto, San Antonio talking Kawhi-DeRozan Swap (UPDATE: Done deal)

I'm happy Raptors are playing well. Hopefully Kawhi commits there long term.

**** the Celtics.

 

@Codman: Was Kawhi healthy last year for the Spurs or not?

 

Tough one here, with not much to offer from me:

Kawhi's team: No and Yes. No, because his injury did not heal properly through the advice of Spurs' docs. And then, yes, Kawhi was healthy through his OWN team of docs and cultivators.

Spurs: Kawhi was healthy, but he chose not to play.


There was no middle ground in that situation, ever. And when your teammates (while warranted in terms of wanting to have the best possible chance to win) dog you in the press, you don't return to the team from that.


Fun story: Allegedly Spurs locker room had one loss where they finally lost their minds as well. One guy I know within the team said it turned into a "Burn Session" of Kawhi as a means to deal with the loss.

*Someone recorded....RC better hope that NEVER gets out of San Antonio.


XO

 

At least in the game against the rockets he didn't look right. He might have been ok at the end of the year, but the spurs talking crap about him probably pissed him off.

 

Tragic given the fact that Kawhi was instrumental to one of their championships.

 

Oh man, "Storytime with @Codman" has returned! This is choice! Look forward to the next episode!

@heypartner wanted to make sure you saw this.

 

Thanks Cod... I always enjoy these "fly on the wall" insights

 

I believe Kawhi's team... he didn't look as athletic early on has he had been in the past... now that could just be rust but it still looks like he is working his way back.

Even at not full strength the guy looks like the best in the world.

 

His defense is other-worldly... And it's not just because he has the lateral quickness and long arms... He's got a crazy defensive IQ. If you could combine Harden's offense and Kawhi's defense, you'd get a GOAT player, far better than MJ or LeBron.

 

Was it a player who recorded? We have another Dangelo Russell type snitch in the league?

 

Gregg Popovich: Kawhi Leonard a great player, but not leader for us

 

I don't think that's an issue for the Raptors. They have a clear leader in Lowry. All Kawhi needs to do is lead by example.

 

Kawhi Leonard says Gregg Popovich leadership barb 'funny to me'

Spoiler

 

I like Kawhi because he thought about maybe it wasn't really disrepect.

"I don't know if he's talking about last year or not," -- Kawhi
​

That thought came to my mind too, because if Pops was referring to Kawhi's whole career, then that quote by Pops doubles as a MAJOR jab at Tony Parker. If Pops is talking about more years than just last year, then why would he leave Parker off his list (saying, "Manu and Patty were the leaders."). That would be a Phil Jackson-esque jab at Parker for leaving the team.

 

who is this ref, is this tony brothers?

 

Exactly . . .. I thought this was a even trade . . .now I see it is not even close

Rocket River

 

Danny Green really makes it even more lopsided. He's providing great defense, veteran leadership and is shooting 44% from three which would be his career high if he managed to sustain it... Also seems like a really good locker room guy.

 

Pop had a lot of issues with Parker, especially early in Parker’s career.

 

Stein:

Kawhi Leonard will leave Toronto to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers in July:

Look for several of next summer’s major free agents — Boston’s Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler and Golden State’s Klay Thompson — to stay put.

Allow me to also pass on one of the wildest predictions I’ve heard lately, from one wise insider, who thinks even DeMarcus Cousins will consider re-upping with the Warriors for one more season despite the (comparatively) minuscule raise they can offer on Cousins’ current $5.3 million salary.

The Raptors, however, know that they almost certainly have to win it all to convince Leonard to spurn a return to his native Southern California. It turns out that merely winning the LeBron-less East will be tougher than the Raptors ever imagined because of Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Boston and pesky Indiana.

The Clippers’ hopes of signing Kawhi away from the Raptors, as a result, feel rather real as the calendar flips. One likewise presumes that a full Toronto teardown, headlined by a Kyle Lowry trade, would soon follow if Kawhi exits.​