(OT) Kawhi saga

[illmatic99]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23366667/inside-tension-kawhi-leonard-spurs

This is just fascinating coming from an org like SA.

 

[santeesioux]

Hopefully they're willing to trade him for someone like CJ at this point.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Yeah, I read that and it makes you wonder if they'll mend whatever needs mended and Kawhi stays a spur or if they trade him. Also makes you wonder if Kawhi will ever be as good again?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah, I read that and it makes you wonder if they'll mend whatever needs mended and Kawhi stays a spur or if they trade him. Also makes you wonder if Kawhi will ever be as good again?

Yeah this part is kind of alarming:

"According to multiple sources, Leonard's camp has come to believe the issue has more to do with an ossification, or hardening, in the area where the muscle has been repeatedly bruised, and then an atrophy, which in turn affected the tendons connecting the muscle to the knee.

The Spurs have always called the injury quadriceps tendinopathy, which is a disease of the tendon that has a degenerative effect on the muscle by keeping it in a constant state of exhaustion"............

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Sounds a bit like Bill Walton's beef with the Blazers that led to him leaving for San Diego.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

Yes - but that assumes the Blazers have to medically clear Kawhi and get to at least make him pass a physical.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

Only if you are prepared to pay him that super max of 209 MIL.

Which is probably a yes, because you have to take chances. But it could blow up in your face.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Only if you are prepared to pay him that super max of 209 MIL.

Which is probably a yes, because you have to take chances. But it could blow up in your face.

On the other hand he will only get that max if he stays healthy all of next year. No one will give it to him if he is hurt yet again....

 

[Scalma]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

There shouldn’t be blazer fan out there that wouldn’t. I’d do it even if I wasn’t sure he’d re-sign. The problem is it would take more than just CJ. I guarantee Pop would want Collins as well. In that scenario I’d want a long term commitment.

 

[illmatic99]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

In a second

Only if you are prepared to pay him that super max of 209 MIL.

Which is probably a yes, because you have to take chances. But it could blow up in your face.

I don't think he's eligible for the 200 mil extension with a team outside of the Spurs. The designated supermax thing can only be with the team that drafted him or if he were traded on his rookie deal. It's why Cousins/Butler/George are not eligible.

 

[CupWizier]

Yes - but that assumes the Blazers have to medically clear Kawhi and get to at least make him pass a physical.

That's the million dollar question. At minimum, he would also have to agree to opt in so that he would be signed for 2 years.

 

[Eastoff]

Damn, that article is quite the saga by itself.

 

[Lanny]

Sounds a bit like Bill Walton's beef with the Blazers that led to him leaving for San Diego.

Bill apologized to the entire city of Portland for that.

 

[Haakzilla]

...after reading it, I wouldn't want Kawhi's camp anywhere near Portland!

 

[BonesJones]

Having read that: if the Spurs picked up the phone and said "We'll do CJ McCollum for Kawhi right now" - would you say yes?

Yes.

 

[BonesJones]

That's the million dollar question. At minimum, he would also have to agree to opt in so that he would be signed for 2 years.

He's not going to agree to that.

 

[CupWizier]

He's not going to agree to that.

Maybe he does and maybe he doesn't.

 

[BonesJones]

Maybe he does and maybe he doesn't.

He's not going to... why would he pass up $10M...?

 

[dviss1]

There shouldn’t be blazer fan out there that wouldn’t. I’d do it even if I wasn’t sure he’d re-sign. The problem is it would take more than just CJ. I guarantee Pop would want Collins as well. In that scenario I’d want a long term commitment.

Really? We're talking about an injured malcontent.

Know one knows the details.

That'd give me pause as it should give any organization pause.

 

[CupWizier]

He's not going to... why would he pass up $10M...?

then ask him to extend his contract. Otherwise we could end up like OKC if George leaves and we would have no McCollum (as well as any other assets we could give up) with nothing but a one year rental. Are you okay with that?

 

[BonesJones]

then ask him to extend his contract. Otherwise we could end up like OKC if George leaves and we would have no McCollum (as well as any other assets we could give up) with nothing but a one year rental. Are you okay with that?

Why would I be okay with that?

 

[Scalma]

then ask him to extend his contract. Otherwise we could end up like OKC if George leaves and we would have no McCollum (as well as any other assets we could give up) with nothing but a one year rental. Are you okay with that?

Let’s just for arguments sake say we only give up CJ, but receive no assurances from Kawhi that he would stay. Would you do it? I would. That’s an mvp caliber player we’re talking about. Worst case it’s a big salary dump and we set ourselves up for a reboot.

 

[CupWizier]

Let’s just for arguments sake say we only give up CJ, but receive no assurances from Kawhi that he would stay. Would you do it? I would. That’s an mvp caliber player we’re talking about. Worst case it’s a big salary dump and we set ourselves up for a reboot.

I would have to think long and hard and dig deep into the issues between him and the Spurs and definitely have to make sure his injury is indeed healed as it sounds like it could possibly be a lingering and permanent problem. What if it cost us McCollum and Collins? would you do it? What if it eventually cost us Lillard (by not re-signing a new contract) because he feels he is left on an island with CJ and Collins gone and then Kawhi gone. Lots of scenarios to play out as it's not an easy decision.

 

[CupWizier]

Why would I be okay with that?

It was simply a question and only required a yes or no answer. Do you think that's a possibility (that Kawhi could walk at the end of the year)?

 

[Scalma]

I would have to think long and hard and dig deep into the issues between him and the Spurs and definitely have to make sure his injury is indeed healed as it sounds like it could possibly be a lingering and permanent problem. What if it cost us McCollum and Collins? would you do it? What if it eventually cost us Lillard (by not re-signing a new contract) because he feels he is left on an island with CJ and Collins gone and then Kawhi gone. Lots of scenarios to play out as it's not an easy decision.

If it included Collins I would want a long term commitment from Kawhi. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.

I realize there are some real questions about Kawhi, but if there weren’t he wouldn’t be available. He’s one of the three best players in the NBA.

 

[illmatic99]

If you believe this...

He’s one of the three best players in the NBA.

Then this shouldn't matter.

If it included Collins I would want a long term commitment from Kawhi. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.

Collins projects to me as a potential starter level player on a playoff team in the next three years. That kind of player and CJ is still never going to equal the value of a top 3 player, even if it's on a short term contract. Have to take risks.

A lot of parallels to what OKC did with PG (an inferior player to Leonard). That was a risk worth taking for Presti even if it's blowing up in his face now. Granted, his subsequent Melo move is what partially drove in that stake. We'd just need to be smart in building around Dame/Kawhi.

 

[Scalma]

If you believe this...


Then this shouldn't matter.



Collins projects to me as a potential starter level player on a playoff team in the next three years. That kind of player and CJ is still never going to equal the value of a top 3 player, even if it's on a short term contract. Have to take risks.

A lot of parallels to what OKC did with PG (an inferior player to Leonard). That was a risk worth taking for Presti even if it's blowing up in his face now. Granted, his subsequent Melo move is what partially drove in that stake. We'd just need to be smart in building around Dame/Kawhi.

We probably disagree in our evaluation of Collins. I think he will be special.

But my concern with Kawhi goes beyond just his contract. I mean he pretty much missed the whole year with an injury he suffered the previous season. I’d still take the risk, but I’d have a limit.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Collins projects to me as a potential starter level player on a playoff team in the next three years. That kind of player and CJ is still never going to equal the value of a top 3 player, even if it's on a short term contract. Have to take risks.

A lot of parallels to what OKC did with PG (an inferior player to Leonard). That was a risk worth taking for Presti even if it's blowing up in his face now. Granted, his subsequent Melo move is what partially drove in that stake. We'd just need to be smart in building around Dame/Kawhi.

There really are. CJ/Collins is very comparable to Oladipo/Sabonis. Here's to hoping the Spurs see it the same way.

 

[CupWizier]

There really are. CJ/Collins is very comparable to Oladipo/Sabonis. Here's to hoping the Spurs see it the same way.

Very similar, but Oladipo had a break out year but at the time, McCollum was a more valuable asset as Oladipo had underachieved up till this year. Sabonis and Collins are pretty similar though, but George proved that he was healthy again where as Kawhi hasn't done that yet. Wonder if Presti would do it again if George walks? It's definitely a risk.