ESPN: Offering Kawhi the supermax a "tough sell" for Spurs ownership

[Uriel]

I highlighted the parts which I thought were interesting and newsworthy.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- An all-hands-on-deck summer meeting with star forward Kawhi Leonard sits high on the priority list for the San Antonio Spurs, according to sources, as the team enters a pivotal offseason in the wake of Tuesday's 99-91 season-ending loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs.

"Kawhi, everybody asks questions, but he's still here," guard Danny Green said. "He's still locked in. He's a part of the team until things change."
With head coach Gregg Popovich expected to take the lead, the Spurs plan to meet with Leonard over the summer to gauge whether the sides can work out their differences and continue what has been largely a positive and productive partnership, sources said.

Kawhi Leonard's uncertain future will be front and center, but San Antonio will enter the summer with the potential for half its roster becoming free agents.

Leonard was sidelined for all but nine games this season because of a quadriceps issue that has led to an icy relationship with the team's front office over his diagnosis and the rehabilitation process. He continues to rehab in New York.

While the decision regarding whether to offer Leonard a $219 million supermax extension rests with management -- and even the current players, according to a source -- ownership ultimately makes the final call. Convincing the team's former chairman and CEO, Peter Holt, and his wife, Spurs chairman and co-chief executive officer Julianna Hawn Holt, could prove to be a difficult sell for general manager R.C. Buford. The couple is in the midst of a divorce.

Popovich, Buford and Leonard's Spurs teammates have long maintained the squad wants the star forward back in the fold, but they've also all said his long-term health is most important.

Popovich demonstrated proficiency last summer in mending strained relationships when he sat down with power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was unhappy over his role and unsure of how he would fit in the team's plans heading into the 2017-18 season. The two emerged from that sitdown with Aldridge feeling more comfortable, which in turn helped the power forward perform at an All-Star level in the absence of the injured Leonard.

The Leonard situation is just one of many San Antonio plans to navigate in the coming weeks.

"You never know what happens, right, during the summer. What moves can happen," veteran Pau Gasol said. "On our team, from my understanding, there are six or seven guys who are restricted free agents or [have] player options, and then we have the situation that we all know of [Leonard] that we don't know how that's going to resolve, to be honest. From that standpoint, we'll see. Right now is not a time to really think about it or make any decisions. It's just a time to digest what's happened this year, and we'll have plenty of time to discuss next season and what can happen."

Popovich missed his third consecutive game Monday while grieving the death of his wife, Erin, who died last week after a prolonged illness. The latest turn of events leads to questions about whether Popovich would like to continue coaching the Spurs. With 22 years at the helm, Popovich, 69, is currently the longest-tenured head coach in any of the major professional sports leagues. He's also set to take over as coach of the U.S. Olympic team before the 2020 games in Tokyo.

Then, there are pending decisions involving the winningest duo in NBA playoff history (132 wins): veterans Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Ginobili, a 16-year veteran, remains under contract next season for $2.5 million, but over the previous three summers, he has preferred to take a wait-and-see approach before deciding in July about whether to return to the Spurs. Ginobili said he hasn't yet made a decision about his future and will use the summer to ponder his next move.

"As I've done it the last two or three seasons, I'll sit back, relax and, after two or three months, see if I feel retired or not," Ginobili said. "I like to let it season a little bit, to see how I feel. Don't expect news until July, probably. I just don't know. I let a month, two months go by and see how I feel. I'm not the type of guy who makes decisions on the fly, and when you are upset, hurt or whatever."

Parker, meanwhile, has made his intentions clear, saying he'd like to play 20 NBA seasons. But in Year 17, Parker's potential return for 2018-19 hasn't been determined as he becomes a free agent on July 1, when his contract expires.

Buford told ESPN.com the Spurs will make a decision on Parker at the appropriate time, and it's likely he will have to accept a contract worth significantly less than the $15.4 million he earned this season.

San Antonio's longest-tenured player, Parker, 35, suffered a torn quadriceps tendon last season in the playoffs. Since January, he has taken on a reduced role coming off the bench, with 21-year-old Dejounte Murray becoming the team's starter at the position.

"We'll see," Parker said. "I said already I want to keep playing. I'm happy I don't have those retirement parties. I want to keep playing, and we'll see if it's in San Antonio. Everybody knows I would love to stay here. But free agency is always crazy, so we'll see."

The Spurs will also be somewhat in limbo over the summer regarding the return of Green and forward Rudy Gay, as both have player-options on their current contracts. Gay ($8.8 million) and Green ($10 million) have a June 29 deadline to opt into their contracts, but neither of them has yet to make a decision.

There's a lot of decisions going on this summer. It's so sudden," Green said. "We just had a game. Everybody's still pretty caught up in that, the moment of the season being over. We're not really planning the summer just yet. I'm sure we get a couple days, a couple weeks, even a month or so and some guys still won't have a decision yet. I'm sure they'll get advice from their agents, talk to the coaching staff, talk to the organization and figure out where they will go from there. This organization is a big part of me, and I would love to play here again, would love to come back. But things get interesting in free agency."

Reserve Joffrey Lauvergne also faces a June 29 deadline to make a decision on his $1.7 million player option.

Top assistant Ettore Messina filled in for Popovich for three games of the series against the Warriors, but he'll be interviewing soon for the Charlotte Hornets' head-coaching job.

After Tuesday's game, Messina apologized and said he didn't feel comfortable talking about his future with the Spurs. He said if he ever gets an opportunity to become a head coach, however, "the very first thing I'll do, I'll ask, I'll talk to Coach Pop and R.C. [Buford], and see from that."

Restricted free agents Kyle Anderson, Davis Bertans, and Bryn Forbes, meanwhile, will likely be tagged with one-year qualifying offers by June 29 to make them all restricted free agents.

"I love them to death, like my brothers," Murray said. "Whether they're here or not, I have no control over that. I wish the best for everybody."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...ties-offseason

[Spurtacular]

I'm convinced that the media is proactively trying to sabotage the Spurs.

[Uriel]

Woj also reporting that the Spurs' relationship with Kawhi is "broken" and that the Spurs will not blindly offer him the supermax.

https://streamable.com/6y9zr

[CGD]

I'm convinced that the media is proactively trying to sabotage the Spurs.

I dont disagree.

[MoSpur02]

Peter Holt has nothing to do with the decisions anymore

[Mugen]

Weird tbh. Makes sense that Kawhi and his posse got wind of the Spurs being wary of the supermax early in the season and it snowballed into what you see today.

If Kawhi & Co. believed that the supermax was never in play then everything makes a lot more sense. Lot easier to leave a regular extension offer than a supermax offer.

[spurs10]

I'm convinced that the media is proactively trying to sabotage the Spurs.

It's pretty over the top, that's for sure.

[Mugen]

Then again, how do you explain RC paying Patty and Pau

[Barfunk]

I'm convinced that the media is proactively trying to sabotage the Spurs.

The media HATES the Spurs. For what reason I have no ing clue. It really is a phenomenon I am still trying to decipher.

[DPG21920]

I have no doubt in my mind that if Kawhi were healthy and playing SA would have no issue with the SuperMax

[Keepin' it real]

Weird tbh. Makes sense that Kawhi and his posse got wind of the Spurs being wary of the supermax early in the season and it snowballed into what you see today.

If Kawhi & Co. believed that the supermax was never in play then everything makes a lot more sense. Lot easier to leave a regular extension offer than a supermax offer.

Unless NBA owners are stupid, they must have contractual stipulations to punish such actions (max-level players choosing not to play despite not being injured). Such action by a key player can destroy a team, as we all know.

[HarlemHeat37]

I understand the reluctance to pay Kawhi, but it's funny that this is the same FO that gave Patty 50 million at 12:01 and signed Pau for like 48

[Keepin' it real]

The media HATES the Spurs. For what reason I have no ing clue. It really is a phenomenon I am still trying to decipher.

You must have never seen Pop interact with the media.

[Keepin' it real]

I understand the reluctance to pay Kawhi, but it's funny that this is the same FO that gave Patty 50 million at 12:01 and signed Pau for like 48

Patty has been loyal, and a team player. Pau opted out to let the Spurs try to make off season moves last year. So they rewarded him.

Meanwhile, Kawhi ...

[MoSpur02]

I have no doubt in my mind that if Kawhi were healthy and playing SA would have no issue with the SuperMax

The key words there are "IF, HEALTHY, PLAYING." The Spurs' doctors cleared him. So some in the front office and players too think he is healthy. The players held a meeting to see if he was going to play. Obviously the answer to that was no. So that caused more friction and which is why some players didn't even want him on the sidelines during the games.

The front office feel as though Kawhi stole $19 million because he chose not to play to "rehab" in NY and was distant from the organization. All this is why the FO is probably not going to offer the extension.

[Spurtacular]

The media HATES the Spurs. For what reason I have no ing clue. It really is a phenomenon I am still trying to decipher.

Don't overthink it. They and their bosses get richer if Kawhi is in a big market.

[99 Problems]

Then again, how do you explain RC paying Patty and Pau

Well MVP is our second best player, 10-12 Mil usually doesn’t get you a second option. RC is a genius.

[MoSpur02]

There might be an announcement tomorrow from the front office.

[baseline bum]

There might be an announcement tomorrow from the front office.

That would be extremely strange unless it's Pop stepping down.

[offset formation]

Don't overthink it. They and their bosses get richer if Kawhi is in a big market.

Most likely, tbh.

[offset formation]

There might be an announcement tomorrow from the front office.

Nature?

[MoSpur02]

Nature?

Not 100% sure what it's related to be really honest. Possibly something with front office or ownership. Honestly not sure though.

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs better be on their hands and knees for Kawhi cause if he don't sign we might never see another like him on this team again.

Its a superstars league now. Lebron changed the game and Kawhi and his team know this. They call the shots. Spurs are a franchise in so much disarray they should try everything they can to appease him. Pop is in such a vulnerable state he may just give up and let Kawhi have whatever he wants.

[exstatic]

That would be extremely strange unless it's Pop stepping down.

Or, it could be that Kawhi refused an exit interview, and they’re done. It could be anything.

I CANNOT see Pop ever leaving the organization in this kind of state.

[Barfunk]

Don't overthink it. They and their bosses get richer if Kawhi is in a big market.

The media still hates the Spurs. I hear it and see it with my own two eyes all the time.