It is obvious that Kawhi's group is NOT going to allow Kawhi to have a "one on one" conversation with Pop. The group is pulling the strings. They are keeping Kawhi away from Pop. The longer this lasts, the less assets the Spurs will get back. LOL at the "trade deadline." This does NOT go into the season. Clearly Boston has the best trade package. And they have the luxury of waiting later in the summer because they have 2019 picks. Clippers best package is BEFORE the draft with 12/13. So time is on Boston's side. And the Spurs also know this. Spurs won't rush this before the draft. But they won't let it drag into the season as a distraction IMO.
How do you know what Kawhi wants when the Spurs and everyone else is having a hard time reading what he wants? Are you buddies with his uncle?
Yep. A sign and trade would cap us at the apron and be excruciatingly painful, enough that it would deter Lebron from signing. If we get him it’s 95% or more by opt in and trade.
The Lakers rumor about taking on salary to get into the upper part of the lottery is a desperation move to get a pick high enough to draft Doncic to send him to the Spurs for Kawhi. There's all sorts of desperation rumors floating right now. DESPERATION! Get it?
I think Boston could sweeten it considerably with either Brown, Tatum or Heyward. That's TWO elite players for Kawhi. No other team could offer better talent. Boston is almost too deep in good young players.
Because I know the NBA landscape. Guys like Kawhi are staring at mediocrity for the next 3 to 5 seasons if LeBron comes here. They know that if LeBron comes here that more players will follow and they have no chance to compete for titles. Not only that, there'll be 2 juggernauts in the West. Kawhi is staring at first round exits after having to carry his team to 45 wins. He doesn't want to do that, not even for $216 milion or whatever. Kawhi is single-handedly trying to shift LeBron and George to LA. Spurs will agree to trade Kawhi to the Lakers if the Lakers can get Doncic. For that matter, Spurs will trade Kawhi to Phoenix or anywhere else if they can get Doncic.
After carefully studying the NBA landscape, I've determined that the Lakers roster next season will be F: LeBron James F: Kevin Durant C: Anthony Davis G: James Harden G: Damian Lillard Bench F: LaMarcus Aldridge, F: Giannis Antetokounmpo C: Joel Embiid G: DeMar DeRozan G: Russell Westbrook F: Paul George F: Jimmy Butler G: Stephen Curry
I just put a decent amount of money on Houston +800 to get Lebron. By the odds it is a long shot, but the more I think about it... The key assumption is Lebron's motivation. This is a man who has been groomed to be the GOAT since 10 years old, his nickname is the KING for crying out loud. And he was on his way to achieving that, becoming this generation's Jordan, the top story every year in the NBA, until Durant went to the Warriors and derail it. Now, Lebron is a sidenote to the Warriors dynasty. That's got to be killing him. He has the stats, he has the accolades, but if he wants to be the undisputed GOAT, he needs 3 more rings and to top the Warriors. That has to be his ONLY motivation. If that is true, then the decision is actually quite simple. Even if you give LAL the benefit of the doubt and say they get Kawhi, which is a huge if, then they get Paul George. That is still a new team with question marks and no guarantees. And that team has to compete against both GS and HOU in the same conference. And if LAL doesn't get Kawhi then they don't even have a chance. Alternatively, HOU has proven they are on GS's level, at a minimum, even without Lebron. They are the only team in the NBA that can claim that. By adding Lebron, HOU would be the favorites to win the championship. They are the only team that can claim that. I guarantee you, Lebron on LAL, PHI... GS would still be the favorites in Vegas. Lebron on HOU and they are -150, -200 to win. So put yourself in Lebron's shoes. Would you rather form a brand new team from scratch, build chemistry from scratch, take a risk on if it will work or not. Your second best player has not played basketball in basically a year. You are 34 btw and cannot afford to waste a year while your career is winding down. And even if it works out, you are competing against two super teams in the same conference that both could win 70 games if healthy. OR Join and plug right into a team that already has chemistry. Has already proven to be on the Warriors level(the only team in the NBA that can say this). Play with one of your best friends in the league and godfather to your son(even better chemistry). Oh, and btw also play with the current MVP of the league. The upside to LAL is that it is the biggest market and it will give you more business opportunities. Lebron already runs Blaze pizza there. That might sway a lot of players, even star players. But this is Lebron freakin James, whereever he goes will already be the center of attention, he doesn't need LA for that. If that was so important to him he wouldn't have gone back to Cleveland of all places. For what its worth, the irony is that in order for Lebron to come to HOU, LAL has to be the favorites to get him. HOU does not have the greatest assets, and given a choice CLE would not want to trade him here. The only way it happens is if there is a credible alternative for Lebron to sign outright, leaving CLE with nothing in return. So the fact that LAL is the favorites to sign him does not go against Lebron coming to HOU, in fact it supports it. If my assumption of his motivation is correct, there is only ONE logical choice. I am betting Lebron makes the logical decision.
BEAUTIFUL...ABSOLUTELY LOGICAL, the only thing I am not sure if Harden really wants him, that is, can they both get along...
Doncic??? that goes beyond desperation to delusional schizophrenia. Even if Magic sells himself he can't get a top 2 pick.
So it looks like Brett Brown, SIxers coach, overlapped with Kawhi for 2 years when he was in San Antonio. I'd imagine they have a relationship. Bill Belichick traded Jimmy G to San Fransisco to keep him out of the conference, and because he is close with Kyle Shannahan's dad. Hopefully this is a similar situation, I'd love to see Philly and Boston load up for the years to come.
I agree with all of this. BUT, LeBron still might look at LAL as "good enough" to get to Rockets level. And then that, coupled with the LA lifestyle fit with his family might be just enough motivation for him to make the LAL move. BUT, that aside, the "best" move for him is the Rockets for the reasons you laid out. I guess we'll see if Lebron puts "all his chips on the table" for the Rockets move OR settles for LA
