Kawhi traded to Toronto

[The Midnight]

The risk of downside is much higher than the chance someone will think Kawhi is better than he was when he last played. If Kawhi sucks or plays only so-so, people will start to think he has lingering injuries.

True. I think that's it. Kawhi's camp may have threatened the Spurs with that too, who knows.

 

[gomretat]

The Spurs were asking for 2 starters and 3 x 1st round picks. Instead they settled for one 2nd tier all star, a young that comes off the bench, and an unlikely 1st round pick AND the threw in one of their perennial fan favorites Danny Green. Seems like the Spurs sold themselves VERY short here. Demar is a very good player and they did dump a headcase, but a headcase that is easily a top 4 player in the league. A league dominated by top tier players.

If Kawhi opts not to play for the Raptors, do the Raptors now flip Kawhi to another team (Lakers)? Do the Raptors instead pursue the legal route and bottom out?

What you can be positive about is that the Spurs got the best deal they could get. And they probably saw the value going down. LA thinks he is coming next year and refused to give up very much in terms of young talent. Philly is nervous about him walking after a year and also hoarding young talent. Not many viable options out there. Sounds like Toronto simply decided Demar was not the guy to build around so if Kawhi walks, they have cap space for next year. I think Kawhi and his advisors have played this very poorly but only time will tell. They certainly did this in a way that put the Spurs in a very bad spot.

 

[Watcher]

Teams don't get a physical until they go through with the trade. By showing that he can move around and shoot, etc, you (in theory) should widen the pool of potential suiters.

But the trade doesn't complete until they get their physical.

 

[The Midnight]

But the trade doesn't complete until they get their physical.

My point was you get a bigger market by everyone seeing he could play.

 

[oneye]

I feel bad for Derozan in this situation. Wrong of Toronto to trade him IMO.

I also hate that Derozan being in the West further backlogs Donovan’s All Star spot. I do think Donovan is better than Derozan though, so he should be fine too.

 

[The Midnight]

No way DeRozan gonna be swayed by Drake to stay in TOR ...

 

[mellow]

I really think Derozan is fool's gold, and I hate the LMA/Demar fit. I think losing Danny Green really hurts too. It will still help them though, but their ceiling is lower.

I understand your point, and given the current NBA model for spread offence you are absolutely correct, but I like the move. There are advantages in business, in sports and in life to be contrarian. Zag when everyone else is zigging. So in business sell when everyone else is buying, in personal life save when everyone else is selling, and in teh NBA maybe double down on big bodies and mid range game while they are discounted and the other teams are buying up floor spreaders.

Nobody is going to out-Warriors the Warriors. But in a 7-game series can the Warriors throw enough bodies at the Spurs to stop Gasol, Aldridge, Poetl? And if the opponents defense is designed to let you take long range 2's then why not get the guys who are best at shooting long 2's? I don't know if it will work, but it is unique and therefore interesting.

 

[mellow]

What I also don't get is why would the Spurs not wait til the USA basketball practice to showcase Kawhi before trading him?

risks another injury

 

[Deleted member 848]

I get this from Toronto-- they had nearly a decade of working with Demar, they knew what they had in him. His value is at an all-time high (to this point), but they simpyl weren't confident that they could prevail with him in the Finals if they make it that far.

On the other hand, they thought they could with Kawhi. They still have the rest of their core intact, their spacing improves, and they get back a top shelf defender.

For the Spurs, ****. If Derozan goes to any other team, I wouldn't care. But him going to the Spurs or the Celtics gives me heartburn. If anyone can make him a superstar, it's those two franchises (along with ours).

Feel absolutely awful for Demar. He deserves a statue in Toronto when all is said and done.

 

[The Midnight]

I understand your point, and given the current NBA model for spread offence you are absolutely correct, but I like the move. There are advantages in business, in sports and in life to be contrarian. Zag when everyone else is zigging. So in business sell when everyone else is buying, in personal life save when everyone else is selling, and in teh NBA maybe double down on big bodies and mid range game while they are discounted and the other teams are buying up floor spreaders.

Nobody is going to out-Warriors the Warriors. But in a 7-game series can the Warriors throw enough bodies at the Spurs to stop Gasol, Aldridge, Poetl? And if the opponents defense is designed to let you take long range 2's then why not get the guys who are best at shooting long 2's? I don't know if it will work, but it is unique and therefore interesting.

I think the Spurs will back themselves in being able to help DeRozan extend that shot to the 3pt line.

 

[Stoked]

I disagree. Not every player needs to speak to the media about injuries or conflicts in the organization. In fact, the Spurs were the ones to call him out to the media, and I believe that is what truly pissed him off (as it should).

Regardless, nobody truly knows what was going on behind the scenes. I just don't see why Kawhi (or any NBA player) would just sit out for no reason so I am going to believe he was hurt.

In this scenario I feel Leonard would have done himself a service by speaking up. I am not saying they need to run to the press on every injury. But in this case it was being spread around that he was playing it up/faking it/whatever. So yeah, set the record straight. He chose not to and that's fine. Just felt he missed a chance to truly stand up for himself.

Either way, a solid season will put all that to rest.

 

[gomretat]

What I also don't get is why would the Spurs not wait til the USA basketball practice to showcase Kawhi before trading him?

1) They are not sure he is going
2) They are already more than clear about who the potential suitors are and it is a short list
3) Those who want him but who won't give anything up won't change their mind based upon how he plays. They are simply waiting until he is a FA