What I’m noticing around the internet is that a lot of people are somehow reading Woj’s report like he only wants to go the the Lakers, a la Paul George a year ago. A lot of discussions are making the assumption that as long as it’s not the Lakers, Kawhi’s trade value is destroyed. The report was that the Lakers are at the top of his list of preferred destinations. Why is the majority of conversations I’m seeing simply ignoring the fact that other teams might offer a trade package with a degree of confidence that Kawhi will re-sign? Do we really expect Kawhi to bail on the Sixers, when he’s the main piece to a big 3 that will be contenders for years to come? Or I’m Boston, where he’s the best player on a perennial 60 win team?
For those who didn’t read/listen to the pod JR just transcribed; Windhorst believes that the Spurs have been feeding Woj info on this story directly to force Kawhi’s hand because he won’t talk to them. Implies Boston is the preferred trade destination of the Spurs and they love Jaylen Brown.
If pop trades Kawhi, I think he'll aim to get a player like Doncic in return. Whoever has the pick that gets him will get Kawhi.
i can definitely see sacramento jumping in and they have the cap space to absorb some of the spurs trash as well. clippers are in good position too. jerry west is a great influencer and he is always able to do more with less. that 12th and 13th pick, in a draft that's considered deep, fits right into the spurs model of developing players the spurs way. remember that kawhi was the 15th pick as well.
The only people I can see leaking the Kawhi crap is either Kawhi and his camp, with a nudge from Lebron or someone on the Lakers itself like Jeanie buss. Which if it is the case , should be dealt a tampering fine and should lose draft picks and should not be eligible to sign kawhi for the rest of his career. Trade him anywhere but the Lakers just to teach Kawhi a lesson. If he wants to call it business the Spurs have every right to get what they want back. As much as I hate the Spurs I do not want to see L.a. get Kawhi. In fact I'd love to see his butt get traded to Minnesota. If he thinks Pop is tough try Thibs!
i actually wouldn't be surprised if someone from the lakers front pulled a stunt like this... but it still feels like it's from Kawhi's group. and nothing to do with Bron
Pop is a Stand up guy. As Much as I have hated the Spurs because they are a Texas Rival, I have always envied their organization on how it is ran and that is all credited to Pop! Pop is the one coach I guarantee would take a bullet for his players. He is especially good with players that pour their blood sweat and tears for him. This news leaking out, and the whole last season debacle, and not even the respect of speaking with Pop about the situation is a slap in the face. There is no absolute good reason for Pop to treat him with the same respect he gives a guy like Parker, Ginobli, Mills, Duncan, Robinson. Trade the guy to whatever team can offer the best package. If it is the Lakers, so be it. If it is new orleans, europe, china, millwuakee, orlando... so be it. But Pop needs to take care of himself and the organization that pays his ass! F' the Olympic comittee... Now I hope the Lakers end up like the Magic when they got Mcgrady! Expected to get Mcgrady, Hill, and Duncan but ended up with Mcgrady, injured Hill, and no Duncan!
Not if Bron is trying to set up a super team in a town he wants to move to. Lebron is not a r****ded player!
i just don't think lebron would do popovich dirty like that. he respects the hell out of that guy. maybe someone like kd would... but not lebron
My gut feeling is that Lebron hasn't made his decision. I don't think he is responsible for any leak for now.
Brown Rozier a pick and some salary filler. If hes willing to commit to Boston, that's a great trade for both sides. Irving, Hayward, Kawhi,Tatum,Horford, that's an awesome starting 5. Can't see the Lakers coming close to that offer.
...and people said they didn't want LBJ because that wouldn't be competitive. BTW this is not directed at you. I totally agree with you. LBJ lucked out this year with Boston losing Hayward and Kyrie but I will tell you that it may be Ainge who lucked out when he got to see the full potential of Rozier, Brown, Tatum, Smart, and so on. Remember this is Boston that offered 4 1st for Frank "I forgot his last name" Kaminsky. Boston has culled those assets and for now we really have the first time where teams needs to make a move to catch up and block other teams. Ainge did not accrue these assets to watch the lazy moron Lakers inherit a dynasty or to let GSW sit pretty. Boston is maxed out now with hefty bills coming and they need to win now. Those assets look great but those teams are going to get better and the value of those picks will drop later. Besides that point it is hard to look at all of those assets not helping you now. 100% Spurs will not send Kawhi to the Lakers or the West. He will go to Boston or Philly and with all of the bidders Boston will probably send out Kyrie and a pick so they don't get shafted or multiple 1sts. Boston cannot and will not sit this one out. Everything is in play now and teams know it. I really liked your concept of PG13, LBJ for Ryno, Gordon, Tucker and parts and have proposed a version of it recently. It is FAR FETCHED and I DON'T BELIEVE it will happen but along the Boston lines there is reason for it. Cleveland needs a tax break and assets and OKC needs to make lateral moves to stay relevant with Russ. OKC has two problems losing PG13 and getting rid of Melo. Once they lose them they get nothing back unless they make a saving lateral move. Cleveland is losing LBJ and needs to rebuild their assets. I believe ATL ,SAC, CHI, and IND would take Ryno and being able to prove that gives leverage in the LBJ trade to offload Ryno. I don't want to go through an exact exchange here because those have been listed but each team has $5.3M and 1sts to spend and teams can do step down or step up trades instead of two years down on a bad asset. I believe Melo will opt in and be stretched/buyout. Before that happens he could be traded with a money sweetener for a team like Cle to then release him. Cle also needs to dump Tristan, KLove, GHill, and no one will take JR. Morey can wargame a lot and make a trade and daisy chain others. This is one time where a big 3 way or 4 way could really help several teams and the service for being able to do this might send KLove/Gordon to OKC and some other parts elsewhere using Sac and the Rockets 3 available 1sts and OKCs picks. Definitely would be interesting and exciting. ALSO it may be an over the top carrot to sell to LBJ and gets CLE out of the tax. You could keep Ariza, Capela, Luc, sign Evans, sign Melo & Wade later and so on. In the playoffs if necessary 200 out 240 minutes with 5 All-Stars with the remaining 40 lock down D and strong production. It's INSANE but POSSIBLE.
Well Pop has never been in a similar situation to begin with. I also don't remember the Spurs making big trades in many years...last things i remember are the Hill for pick trade and the trade when they literally gifted us Scola. They also just resigned old guys like Pau and Mills with too big contracts, let's say they're not exactly immune to criticism. And last but not least, good luck in dealing with Ainge, even though, with a player like Kawhi involved he might "give up" a bit, but we'll see how this end up, especially if it turns out that Kawhi is deadset on L.A or the Lakers.
Woj: Where are we at right now? The Spurs were blindsided yesterday by the reporting. They thought they'd have a chance here to sit down with Kawhi in the near future. They still feel time is on their side. The draft is Thursday, free agency July 1 but the trade deadline in February is really the only deadline they'll be working with. That'll be their last chance to trade him or still offer that $219M super max. They're not running into a trade scenario here. They went through this with LaMarcus Aldridge last year, worked things out and signed him to a contract extension. Other potential suitors? Most teams in the league have interest and some started to register their interest yesterday but Boston has the draft picks & young players to be a factor for any star player in the league. They called San Antonio at the deadline. San Antonio did not engage them. Boston is ready to get back into this if Leonard becomes available. Are we at the point the relationship is irreparable? That's what the Spurs would like to find out. Popovich had hoped to sit down with Kawhi & talk about this face to face. San Antonio still hopes this happens. The Spurs want to continue to build around Kawhi. That starts with a conversation between Kawhi & Popovich.
If Boston is interested, they will check all the boxes for SA: ability to offer young potential stars, an established player, picks, all while sending Kawhi to the East. I actually think the longer this drags out, the worse it will be for Houston. If there’s even a hint of a chance that LA can trade for Kawhi, Lebron & PG13 could decide to sign on with the expectation that a trade will be commenced in the near future. If Kawhi goes to Boston, LA would have to go through GSW, Houston, & a beefed up Boston...that’s a freaking murderer’s row.
