Leonard is not going to be traded to the Lakers. There are multiple eastern conference teams in big markets (Boston, Philadelphia and New York) that can beat the best Lakers offer. Plus, it’s the Spurs we are talking about. Pop hates the Lakers and won’t acquiesce to Kawhi’s demands after the way he handled last season.
lulz, Magic (aka lakerswiz) is following @cyberx on cfnet, making his first post in 6 years Sheesh, Magic ... don't you have staff who can answer that for you?
I think the general consensus is that Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum are and/or will be better than Zo, Ingram or Kuzma. That and the fact that Boston has a bunch of 1sts they can swing
Clippers and Celtics have the best packages for him Tobias/12th, 13th pick vs. Jaylen Brown/Boston first rounder, kings first rounder Doubt Kawhi signs long term with Celtics though. My guess he goes to Clippers
Celtics for sure have the best assets with Tatum, brown and the Sacramento pick. Clipper aren't even close though, the 12+13 pick in top heavy draft aren't that appealing. Both sixers and Lakers top anything the clips offer imo
Thanks for the clarification. Always appreciate your posts. I actually was not referring to the supermax but was referring to the normal one year extra contract that Boston would be able to give if they traded for him, as opposed to him leaving Boston to sign with LA or NY (I think he would have to sign for one year less then?). In any case my point was only that if Boston got him, he wouldn’t be able to force his way to the lakers next year and it would not make sense to leave Boston at that point. As alway, love your posts.
Not an issue. The admissions period has passed and they’re already fully booked, plus Kinkaid is always fully booked.
Since he isn't signing the supermax, the next contract he signs (or a max extension) will only take him through his 10th yr...like what Durant did. That way he can sign for the 35% Max for 10yr Vets (which is the highest max, including the supermax) as soon as he is eligible.
Money talks. I think they make a spot for a VIP. Agree though - my kid took the exam months ago for admission next year.
Woj: What, if anything, can the Spurs do to salvage this relationship? The Spurs had wanted to talk directly to Kawhi Leonard. Gregg Popovich worked with him on setting up a meeting. That meeting hadn't happened. I was told in the last couple of days Leonard was trying to buy some time before sitting down with Popovich & then was thinking of just talking with him on the phone. The report today blindsided the Spurs. They had not been told this by Kawhi or his camp. There had been a sense they wanted to get that $219 super max. Spurs would like to speak with Kawhi & see if there's a way to move forward. There are some who wonder is this a negotiating tactic or is he absolutely set on being traded? Those are questions San Antonio & other teams would like to get some answers to. Lakers his preference? Lakers & the Clippers. Around Kawhi & his group over the last weeks/months, there's been a lot of indecision, changing of minds of what exactly they'd like to do. It remains fluid. Because of the chance to go to LA, LeBron potentially or Paul George, on one day I'm told that appeals to Leonard & other times maybe I don't want that spotlight. He hasn't liked the coverage of this story, having the attention on him. You'll get that times a lot in LA. That makes the Clippers at times more intriguing to him. This story may keep evolving. Other teams would like to get involved. How could this affect LeBron? LeBron wants to play with great players, high IQ guys. This is a MVP caliber player. It's a difficult pathway for Kawhi to get to the Lakers before his free agency in 2019. The Spurs are not inclined or enthusiastic about doing a deal with the Lakers. The pieces with the Lakers don't fit. Watch for Boston. If the Spurs do a deal, Boston has the assets & interest in Kawhi to do a deal that would make more sense for the Spurs. Young players & draft picks. _______________________________ Chris Haynes: Why is this news coming out now? Kawhi's camp has always been felt like they've been slighted by the Spurs all season long. There's a level of distrust there with the way his injury has been handled & the narrative surrounding it. Leading up to the draft, we know that's when trades start circulating. Kawhi has yet to sit down with the Spurs. The Spurs wanted that to happen but with just Kawhi. That's not just gonna play right now. Kawhi has felt like he's had enough & wants out of San Antonio. Just Kawhi, you mean without agents & family members? Correct. Without agents, without family members. The Spurs would like to deal with this with just Kawhi. Kawhi's camp has felt like the scrutiny has been going towards all of them. If they're going to have a meeting, they wanted it together. Both sides couldn't agree to make it happen. Why leave the super max contract? A lot of people felt Kawhi is a business man & would be crazy to leave over $30M on the table. The level of distrust feels the organization placed upon him, he wants to be in a situation where he trusts the organization, where they have his best interests in mind & is willing to let go of that money. Something still can be amended here. It'll take them coming to terms but as of right now, Kawhi feels he's better suited somewhere else. He's not thinking about the money.
I was only referring to the fact that enrollment would jump. They’re always full. Having said that, of course they would could and lie for the cache of having bronny go there. Funny thing is, even if this were true it could only mean due diligence. I suspect we are 1a or 1b on lebron’s list, unless Boston got Kawhi and suddenly decided to trade for Lebron, so he or his family should dondue diligence.
Where's his agent in all of this? The way things have unfolded over the past year just screams amateur hour, like a derivative of LaVar Ball.
@rocketjunkie and @bulkatron Thx for the insight on Kinkaid. fwiw: Rumors are he visited SJS, too. And keep in mind, this might not have anything to do with Bronny. He has an 11yr old and 4yr girl, too. I could see Bronny going to a bball powershouse in another city for high school (with a team of live-in Help or staying with another trusted family), while the younger kids follow mom and dad and go to the best private schools in the their new work town. That's it....I'm sticking to it.
Windhorst: According to Woj, Kawhi prefers the Lakers. How do you think this will play out for the Spurs? This is Kawhi's attempt to make a leverage play. Trade me somewhere I want to go because I have a contract decision and I will control my future. I'm not so sure. As look around the league at Boston, Philadelphia and even Sacramento, which may dangle the #2 pick, I don't think the Lakers can make a comeptitive offer. Kawhi, even if he intends to, cannot sign a new extension with his new team. The earliest is 6 months after. While he may want LA, the Spurs may have better options and have no incentive to do what he wants. How does this affect LeBron? I've been convinced for months LeBron & Kawhi are connected. Where Kawhi goes affects LeBron. Not necessarily teammates but could block options. For example, if Philadelphia trades for Kawhi, that door may close for LeBron. I got to believe LeBron & Kawhi are in touch and Paul George. This is the time of the year when free agents do business with each other. If they haven't been talking, they will be to see if there's a way to match up or way to stay apart. Doesn't this sound familiar to 8 years ago and the conversations between Wade, LeBron & Bosh? People hated it then but is it just now the way of life in the NBA? That changed NBA player movement. Every summer we've seen massive movement. Guess what? We'll see it again. I know everyone is assuming all these guys will end up on the Lakers together. I think that's a long shot at this point.
Now that i think about it, Doncic would be the perfect pick for the Spurs, pretty sure he would be ok in going there too, the Spurs have history with Euro/FIBA players...i just don't see Leonard staying in SacTown after one season...why would they give up the number 2 for him? That's just way too risky for me, or better, a complete suicide.
Mike C. Wright: You've been in contact with the Spurs. Their reaction to this story? I hit up the Spurs within a minute of this news breaking. I was told "Hey, Kawhi, neither Kawhi or his people told anything to us about a trade." A little bit of a communication gap which has always been the case throughout this when he first got injured. To me, that's the root of this issue. As of right now, they haven't told the Spurs. I talked to a high ranking source two days ago. They were very optimistic they'd be able to bring back Kawhi. I was told Kawhi & Pop have been in contact periodically & both reached out to one another. Kawhi was at the celebration for Pop's wife. They were a little blindsided by this news. How much does this affect Pop's future with the Spurs? Good question. I've been told this is the least amount of exposure the Spurs have had to Popovich this offseason in a long time. He's also been engaged with the team. He's talked to the guys. They've had some turnover on the coaching staff. He's been on the phone congratulating guys & wishing them well. He's in touch with team & the guys but he's not been as engaged. I think he'll be back at least for next season.
This crossed my mind, let's suppose they're talking but for whatever reason can't end up in the same team (especially LAL), what happens then? Let's say Kawhi goes to Cs, Lebron can't go there too and knowing the Cs will be really good with Kawhi, does Lebron want to play in a non-contender? Indirectly this could force Lebron to choose the team with the best chances to beat not only GS but the new Cs. A Legacy is built upon winning championships not getting to the Finals 20 times. This Kawhi thing could be really good for HTown after all. Props to Pop for not wanting to deal KL to LAL. Peace!
For those worried about CP3 leaving for the Lakers. His trainer is wearing Rockets gear in the picture. Pretty telling if you ask me.
The Lakers are at Pop's mercy. If he refuses to work with them, they may wind up with just PG... but if he does work with them, they likely wind up with Kawhi, PG, and LeBron.
