Wojnarowski: Man Drafted Right After Marcus Morris Wants The Max, No Traction In Extension Talks

He's 23. Why wouldn't he want to get paid? I have no qualms with players trying to get theirs. It's the owner's faults for overpaying for players like Parsons or Hayward.

 

He's got no leverage when Duncan takes less pay to enable them to build a team. Would Leonard be willing to walk away from the Spurs?

 

I actually think it's the opposite. Leonard on any other team would have a harder time. He's not really adept at getting his own shot, he's not really good at putting the ball on the floor, period. He's getting open looks from the precision of SA's offense.

 

Well, Parsons and Hayward got max contracts. So...

 

 

No.

 

A new world order begins to dawn on the Spurious...

 

imo a lot of people believe that but he's about to become the face of the spurs soon. he probably has a lot more in his game than what he normally shows and likely is working at it til the time comes. but I can see how people say he is a product of the system, as he is willing to commit to playing within in it for the team.

 

Conversely, to be fair, Duncan made $21 million the year before he took the pay cut.... and while he's still crazy effective for being so "old", he's obviously not at his peak anymore.

But the "big 3" are definitely underpaid.

I concur. That said, the stats thrown about generally ignore his best trait, which is his defense.

He's a "max" guy now because he is way more than competent offensively, if at best never more than a number 3/4 primary option there, and is a great rebounder, great defender, unselfish and great teammate.

That said, I have "max" in quotes, because it isn't clear to me. Does "max" mean a predetermined salary and year count... eg. 4 years, starting at $15 per year. Or does he want a 5 year max, and are true max contracts tied to the CBA.... meaning he could be pulling in high teens at some point?

I'd give him 4 years, $15 million flat and hope he signs.

IN any case, he'll be restricted. So if he finds a max contract, SA can and probably will just match. This doesn't strike me as so much a Parsons situation where a contract like that could come out of the blue. The Spurs have to know there might be 1-3 teams willing to throw max money at him... just depends on how the offseason plays out, what team needs are at that time, etc.

It's not like he is always purposefully playing fourth fiddle. Clearly to a degree. But this is a kid that was limited offensively coming out of school, and in opportunities where he's had the ability to create for himself in a true first or second option kind of way, has appeared at least to have an average handle and not fast enough of a first step. On the whole, he's assisted on about half of his shots. But he's assisted on 90% (!!!) of his three's, and when there is 6 minutes or less in a quarter, he becomes assisted on 63%+ of his shots.

But he's one heck of a slasher, knows how to get open, is a very competent mid range shooter, plays such smart basketball.. and is STILL just 22.

Switch Parsons with Leonard last year and I say with extreme confidence, the Rockets make the 2nd round (at least), and the Spurs don't make the Finals (with Parsons... might even lose to the Rockets in that second round).

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I don't know which teams have money and which don't. But put him on the Suns, or the Pelicans, or Toronto, or Denver... those teams make meaningful jumps with him, just because of his defense, and his smarts.

 

You can't compare Duncan to Leonard. Timmy's made plenty of money and he's financially set. This will be Leonard's chance at his first real big pay day which he deserves.

He will have no problem leaving and getting the max elsewhere.

 

Rockets will give him the max if they don't.

NO pick+ paps+ tjones+ ariza

For

Kawhi

 

Agreed with previous comments - if Hayward & Parsons get max, so should Kawhi who is on the same level as those guys at very least considering his elite defensive skills. It's saying something to have a 23 yr old who can go toe to toe with the best basketball player perhaps ever(Lebron), and fare pretty well. Agreed that he is not a ballhandler, scorer. He's kind of like a better version of Trevor Ariza. I wouldn't want to build a team around him, but I can see how a max deal in today's CBA will be a good place for him once the new TV deal kicks in.

 

...how San Antonio deals with this will be an interesting look into their rebuilding plans. I mean, this team hasn't had to rebuild in a LONG TIME and they are generally considered a smart organization with roster management. I imagine they are fielding trade requests now to try to get some sort of gauge of Kawhi's value around the league and figure out if it makes better sense to trade vs sign vs not sign.

They also likely want to see how the health of their big 3 progresses. Assuming Ginobili, Duncan, and Parker are capable of another deep playoff run, you almost have to sign Kawhi because the window is still open and he is crucial as fresh legs to help the old guys out on the floor. However, and I think this is what is going to happen (prediction time!), San Antonio will likely see at least one if not two injuries in their big three and will not be a serious playoff threat by season's end and then San Antonio will have to make a decision about the future of the team.

Not only are Duncan and Ginobili and Parker older, but they have all seen extended miles put on their body from long post seasons, summer commitments to their country's national team, etc. I mean guys like Kobe and Nash prove that you can only fight off father time for so long no matter how good of a shape you keep yourself in.

 

This is clearly Chandler's fault.

 

Good player but the Spurs system makes him look better than he actually is. Put him on a team like Bucks or Hornets and he would be laughed out of the building if asked for the max.

 

It's MJ's fault for offering Gordon Heyward that stupid contract.

 

So is he offended?

 

Rockets would put him at the stretch 4 position and expect him to be a playmaker, 3 pt specialist,...

 

talk about a 180 in sentiment and double standard on this board

Towards the tail end of the previous finals, posters were calling him the best defender in the league (shutting down Lebron and Wade), the spurs emerging go-to guy, and drawing comparisons that he will pan out better than Paul George.

Now that he wants the max, he's become overrated and a "systems player" ?

He's worth the max, especially at the value of his next contract pay increase.

 

No, he'd play the Parsons role much better.

He doesn't take a lot of shots for the spurs.

 

He's got plenty leverage. Multiple teams will offer him a max contract.

And walking away from a Duncan-less Spurs ain't the worst thing in the world.