The problem with Kawhi looking to partner up with another superstar this late in the game is that most of the top 15 players in the league are now locked up in longterm max contracts. Giannis is the next big superstar free agent available in 2 years and that's if he doesn't sign a 35% super max extension with the Bucks already. Besides that, Kawhi is looking at teaming up with 2nd tier guys like Beal, etc, which would also require the Clippers to trade a bunch of assets and lose key role-players just to acquire depending on if the Wizards are even willing to deal him. Still, Kawhi and Beal are not really instant contenders in the loaded West in my opinion. Therefore, best bet for Kawhi is to head back north and stick it out for 1+1 until he's eligible for a super max again.
Jalen Rose: I'm hearing there's a 99% chance not only he'll stay in Toronto but for a 2-year deal. That'll put him at 10 years of service. At that point, he'll be at a different level of eligibility as it relates to a super max contract. I believe the Clippers were in play, as well as the Lakers - he met with them out of all due respect - but Clippers didn't have the fire power to pair with Kawhi. That helped sway the decision in my opinion but also we never know what they might do now. They might all of a sudden sense desperation and you might have Woj breaking the Clippers traded what they needed to trade to try & acquire Kawhi. It's never done until the player signs on the dotted line.
it's 6 pm in Toronto. If he takes a plane and goes back to LA, then things don't look so good. Danny Green is still waiting out there.
if you were Kawhi, would you believe and trust Lebron saying that he will step back and leave the franchise to you?
He is waiting until all of the free agents sign with their teams, then signs with Toronto leaving Lakers with no squad
The Clippers have a load of assets. They could easily nab Love. Would this be such a great inticement for Kawhi? Who knows.
Kawhi should think about himself, not the teams pursuing him aside from Toronto as a curtesy. He might as well wait to see if Clippers can do something, but probably takes the 1 + 1 and if LAC gets their business straight and get a star then next year he might be out.
Kawhi will always be 3rd banana in that city. Lakers mortgaged all of Lavar's children for Anthony Davis so he'll be their future franchise player no matter what. Plus, LeBron is still only 2nd to Kobe in fan's view. Even he's not king of Los Angeles.
Windhorst: One thing becoming clear is the Raptors are a certainty. He knows what they're going to be. They can fall right back into it. The most interesting piece of information I've heard is Kawhi reached out to Kevin Durant and the only place that could've been is the Clippers. What he's looking at is he has uncertainty. He doesn't know if the Lakers can build & mesh together. He doesn't know if the Clippers can trade for a 2nd star. He does know what the Raptors have. If he does indeed return to the Raptors, their entire team is signed through next season. It would make sense to go short & then see what happens with the Lakers & Clippers over the next year. The salary cap is expected to jump again and both teams could have space to go back & he could have a different analysis a year from now. I know that would make Clippers & Lakers fans pull their hair out but that is an option for him. The safety choice is the Raptors. I would not overreact to him having this meeting.
