Kawhi traded to Toronto

[Ron Mexico]

Good move by both teams.

The East is wide open to get to the finals this year. Toronto can make a run at it. Its a big swing but Leonard is probably the best player in the East now. You never know, they might convince him to stay. It's a lot of money to give up to leave. Look so Paul George, he was 100% going to the Lakers.

 

[TheStormofWar]

They might pan out well for the Spurs if they can get Pops to somehow correct DDR's playoff woes. But the Spurs definitely improved over a non-Kawhi Spurs. Our road got tougher. Toronto is making an interesting gamble, but the team as it was wasn't going to beat Philly or Boston, now it might. Plus if Kawhi sticks around, all the better. If not, they get to start their tank in some good fashion because they've already got some good young players on the roster.

 

[TheStormofWar]

I'm kind of curious if this forces Utah to respond or just stay the course. I know we're damn good and not winning a 'chip this year, but the West got so dramatically tougher now.

 

[Magic Spray]

Oh boy.

This is going to be some Rony Seikaly-level **** biting them in they ***.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm Team Kawhi on this. He was hurt. The narrative switching to he just didn't want to play for the Spurs last year, I can't get behind.

I don't know why anybody would think he wouldn't play for the Raptors, unless he was injured.

Yes and no. Uncle Dennis has effed this up badly. He has cost him so much money. If he just says he’s pissed but willing to reconcile they can sign the megamax and get a trade in a year. He was basically not going to play for the team he wanted to for a year anyway, so why not just stick it out a year... maybe they didn’t offer it.

The idea that he’d make up the difference in better marketing deals was always ridiculous and his complete silence through this has only hurt his marketability. When you have Harvard business problems don’t rely on family that did well in junior college to advise you. Just a complete **** show.

I do think his injury is more serious and is not just an injury but possibly a degenerative condition that they may be trying to cover up a bit... part of this is definitely the spurs fault but his team has mismanaged the situation and there are easy things he could have done to make this better.

 

[elan_prodigy]

Wonder if Kawhi will hold this against the Lakers?

 

[TheStormofWar]

Oh boy.

This is going to be some Rony Seikaly-level **** biting them in they ***.

Kawhi can cry all he wants. But if he doesn't show up, he's risking some very heavy disciplinary actions by the league and Toronto or the Spurs if the trade is cancelled. He can't refuse to show up otherwise. I think the Seikaly situation played a lot into the NBA forcing those measures into the CBA.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Kawhi can cry all he wants. But if he doesn't show up, he's risking some very heavy disciplinary actions by the league and Toronto or the Spurs if the trade is cancelled. He can't refuse to show up otherwise. I think the Seikaly situation played a lot into the NBA forcing those measures into the CBA.

I wouldn't put it past Uncle Dennis though... he has already cost Kawhi like 40-80M... what's another $20M

 

[LoPo]

I have a feeling this is what Toronto wants. They know they couldn't win the East with DeRozan and Lowry. But they couldn't trade DeRozan without fan outrage.

If Kawhi refuses Toronto, they could trade him to Philly or LA for value. They will likely get their pick back from SA (top 20 protected) and have a brighter future than paying DeRozan $30+ the next 3 years.

If Toronto turns DeRozan into Danny Green, Covington, Saric and Miami's 2021 1st, they are smart. Or DeRozan into Ingram, Hart and a future LA 1st.

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[Jazz Spazz]

I have a feeling this is what Toronto wants. They know they couldn't win the East with DeRozan and Lowry. But they couldn't trade DeRozan without fan outrage.

If Kawhi refuses Toronto, they could trade him to Philly or LA for value. They will likely get their pick back from SA (top 20 protected) and have a brighter future than paying DeRozan $30+ the next 3 years.

If Toronto turns DeRozan into Danny Green, Covington, Saric and Miami's 2021 1st, they are smart. Or DeRozan into Ingram, Hart and a future LA 1st.

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app

I don't like the idea of trading stars for non stars. This is a star driven league, so it seems like a setback.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

So I forgot the Spurs had Rudy Gay too... Derozan, Aldridge, Rudy Gay... give SA all the midrange contested twos. All. of. them.

 

[MDAV28]

Yes and no. Uncle Dennis has effed this up badly. He has cost him so much money. If he just says he’s pissed but willing to reconcile they can sign the megamax and get a trade in a year. He was basically not going to play for the team he wanted to for a year anyway, so why not just stick it out a year... maybe they didn’t offer it.

The idea that he’d make up the difference in better marketing deals was always ridiculous and his complete silence through this has only hurt his marketability. When you have Harvard business problems don’t rely on family that did well in junior college to advise you. Just a complete **** show.

I do think his injury is more serious and is not just an injury but possibly a degenerative condition that they may be trying to cover up a bit... part of this is definitely the spurs fault but his team has mismanaged the situation and there are easy things he could have done to make this better.

The Spurs would be under no obligation trade him after a year. They'd have him locked in for 4 more, that's a risk I could see Kawhi's camp not accepting. Also, he is obviously extremely upset with how his injury was handled, so I could see him figuring that he'd be throwing away a year of his prime career for an organization he doesn't have a good relationship with. His relationship was severed so badly, he gave up A LOT of money which I think speaks to how much he wanted out.

Again, I don't really fault anybody for keeping things internal. I understand your point about how that may effect his image and how people will speculate with no word from his camp. But a lot of this mess started with teammates and staff speaking out about him to the media. I appreciate the side that doesn't do that.