Ugh. Such a hard decision. Do I want Kawhi to get traded to the Lakers and form a superteam with Lebron? No. Do I want Kawhi to get traded to the Celtics to perfect their superteam in Boston and deal with the worst fans ever? No.
Not close. Kawhi to Boston is the way better outcome and still leaves the door slightly open for Lebron to Houston. A delay in the decision will help as well.
Problem is, ESPN/FS1 are "influencers" and when they perpetuate storylines that has an echo effect. It trickles down to the Discussion Heads and reverberates to the masses.
LeBron just wants to be in LA. Preferably with someone or two but if not "Fiiiinnneeee, I guess I'll come."
You are assuming Lebron to Houston is still in play. I'm not convinced that it is either way. In that case @Bobbythegreat may be right. He goes to the Celtis and they are basically the Warriors in the East. He goes to the Lakers and they MIGHT be our equal but we might not have to beat them AND the Warriors in the playoffs.
FWIW, my guess is that if the rumored Suns deal involved the Lakers, it wouldn't be announced until after the Lakers had an agreement on a Kawhi trade. More a matter of LA wanting to have their ducks in a row. Because if the Lakers don't get Kawhi, Lonzo is probably more attractive to 2018 FAs than a future 1st would be... and it doesn't seem LA has any interest in pushing back its window.
It's impossible for a team to have Kyrie, Hayward , Kyrie and Horford and paying max to all of them next year. Might as well already resign to Kawhi leaving next year, if not Kyrie too.
Unfortunately for LeBron-to-Houston enthusiasts, Ainge is stingy. He knows he doesn’t have to offer his best package if the Lakers are setting the market.