Will Kawhi Leonard be a long term player?

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Hey do you guys know if there are plans to keep this kid around for a while? He has already become my second favorite player, behind only Timmy of course. I have a Duncan jersey, but I want another jersey, and I thought I might get a Leonard jersey. I just don't want to get a jersey for a player who might be gone in a couple of years. Also, what's the best place to get Spurs merchandise online? I live in Eugene, OR, so my only option is to get Spurs stuff online. No Spurs merchandise here.

[Spurtacus]

Hopefully he will after his jersey retired up there with Bowen and the big 3.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Hopefully he will after his jersey retired up there with Bowen and the big 3.
I like the sound of that!

[Gino2882]

While it would be impossible to guarantee how long any player will be on a given team, it does look like Leonard will be the long term answer at SF. The only other legit SF on the roster is Stephen Jackson and he is in his mid 30s with only one more year on his contract. I would like to think that Leonard will be the Spurs' starting SF for quite some time.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Well unfortunately there are no Leonard jerseys for sale online and I don't want to spend an extra $20 to create a custom jersey. Guess I'm waiting until next season. Thanks for the answers! I figured guys in SA would know better than me about the chances of Leonard being a long term player for the Spurs.

[jhfenton]

There are no guarantees, but I think it's a good bet that your Leonard jersey would be good for at least a few more years. If he progresses at all, he'll be cheap for at least 3 more years on his rookie contract (the 3rd and 4th years team options). And then he'd potentially be a RFA. Who knows at that point what the team will look like.

I've quickly become a fan too.

[Vash StampedE]

Kawhi will be one of the key pieces of the Spurs moving forward and when the Big 3 finally decides to hang it up. With Kawhi, Splitter, Neal and Green, the future is the Spurs is already looking good.

[Blake]

Aside from injury, he'll be here for the long haul.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Simply, Leonard is a cornerstone. We wouldn't have traded Hill and a first rounder for him for nothing. And his development has been far more rapid than anyone expected. He's here for a long while to come.

[BackHome]

Hell Yes..

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Any stores in San Antonio that might have a Leonard Jersey that also sell stuff online? Tried Googling Leonard jersey and nothing came up. I also can't find out when new NBA jerseys come out, if someone also has that answer I'd appreciate it.

[Russ]

He's 20 and he's starting on the best team in the league.

He was a crappy three-point shooter in college from a closer distance. Now look at him as an NBA corner three specialist.

He's a sponge. He's gonna be very good.

He will be able to write his ticket in a couple years -- hopefully in SA.

[stxspurs]

Any stores in San Antonio that might have a Leonard Jersey that also sell stuff online? Tried Googling Leonard jersey and nothing came up. I also can't find out when new NBA jerseys come out, if someone also has that answer I'd appreciate it.

i think i saw some at south park mall. along with 2 for 1 hill/jefferson unis. havent been there in a couple months

[Libri]

Hey do you guys know if there are plans to keep this kid around for a while? He has already become my second favorite player, behind only Timmy of course. I have a Duncan jersey, but I want another jersey, and I thought I might get a Leonard jersey. I just don't want to get a jersey for a player who might be gone in a couple of years. Also, what's the best place to get Spurs merchandise online? I live in Eugene, OR, so my only option is to get Spurs stuff online. No Spurs merchandise here.

Leonard has team options for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. I'm confident the team will pickup those options. He has a qualifying offer in 2015/16. There is an option of extending Kawhi's rookie scale contract for up to four more seasons after his third year. That could be a possibility but we will have to wait and see.

[spursfaninla]

Leonard the next young Spur player who could have a shot at an all-star year during his career. He is not as consistently good on defense as green, who is our best perimeter defensive player, but when Leonard is "on", his defense has a higher ceiling than Greens.

Green and Splitter are both good, but Green is 25 and Splitter is 27. An NBA player peaks typically around 28. So, they are likely close to their maximum potential, where Leonard can improve for another 8 years.

Neal is a great offensive player, but is so bad defensively that I hope the Spurs never depend on him for too many minutes, unless the rest of the Spurs are so good defensively that they make up for it.

In any case, 4 spurs in the rotation that are young and quite productive is encouraging, and Leonard is the creme of the crop.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Leonard the next young Spur player who could have a shot at an all-star year during his career. He is not as consistently good on defense as green, who is our best perimeter defensive player, but when Leonard is "on", his defense has a higher ceiling than Greens.

Green and Splitter are both good, but Green is 25 and Splitter is 27. An NBA player peaks typically around 28. So, they are likely close to their maximum potential, where Leonard can improve for another 8 years.

Neal is a great offensive player, but is so bad defensively that I hope the Spurs never depend on him for too many minutes, unless the rest of the Spurs are so good defensively that they make up for it.

In any case, 4 spurs in the rotation that are young and quite productive is encouraging, and Leonard is the creme of the crop.
Say what? I think Leonard is the best perimeter defender on the team. Green got schooled by CP3 while Leonard D'ed him up.

[Jayem]

hopefully stephen can tell kawhi how much he'd regret it if he ever left SA

[spursfaninla]

Say what? I think Leonard is the best perimeter defender on the team. Green got schooled by CP3 while Leonard D'ed him up.

Simply, no.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195296

I am going to use DG(Daniel Green) to not confuse between the name and the color: In case you have not read Timvp's player pairs analysis, "green" points allowed in a box/colmn means teams scored less with that combination of players on the floor. DG is green in points allowed, making every other player on the team better defensively except Blair and Neal.

Leonard is almost all red, with Leonard only making Jackson, Blair and Duncan better defensively.

ON the year, Green improved the defense and Leonard improved the offense, generally. However, Leonard has moments of explosive defensive impact on the floor, with steals, blocks, where Green quietly smothers players. Overall, Green is more consistent.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Simply, no.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195296

I am going to use DG(Daniel Green) to not confuse between the name and the color: In case you have not read Timvp's player pairs analysis, "green" points allowed in a box/colmn means teams scored less with that combination of players on the floor. DG is green in points allowed, making every other player on the team better defensively except Blair and Neal.

Leonard is almost all red, with Leonard only making Jackson, Blair and Duncan better defensively.

ON the year, Green improved the defense and Leonard improved the offense, generally. However, Leonard has moments of explosive defensive impact on the floor, with steals, blocks, where Green quietly smothers players. Overall, Green is more consistent.
Well, I'm proven wrong. Though can we agree Leonard has a higher ceiling for defensive play than Green?

[HarlemHo 37]

Aside from injury, he'll be here for the long haul.

People said the same thing about G. Hill. He was suppose to be the starting point guard by now, taking over for the unreliable T. Parker.

[spursfaninla]

well, i'm proven wrong. Though can we agree leonard has a higher ceiling for defensive play than green?

clearly.

[AlleyOopNazi]

Loved watching S. Diego St. last yr. When I heard the trade during the draft my friend was panicky and angry, confused about what the hell the FO just did. I was ecstatic. Even then I had no idea he could knock down the long ball like hes doing now. Steal of the draft, quite literally.
I can only imagine his learning curve over the summer, hes gonna be a stone cold killer.

[szkorhetz]

I can only imagine his learning curve over the summer, hes gonna be a stone cold killer.
He has to learn some post moves (maybe call Tim.. :) )and has to develop a reliable mid-range jumper, and after that he could be much more than what is he now. Wait a minute, the FO and ST (& me) both think he will be the future of this franchise... :D

[therealtruth]

Say what? I think Leonard is the best perimeter defender on the team. Green got schooled by CP3 while Leonard D'ed him up.

Green got schooled by CP3. You didn't watch how CP3 consistently schooled the Grizzlies in crunch time? DG made him work for his baskets and he played that last possession excellent.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

He has to learn some post moves (maybe call Tim.. :) )and has to develop a reliable mid-range jumper, and after that he could be much more than what is he now. Wait a minute, the FO and ST (& me) both think he will be the future of this franchise... :D
One thing he definitely needs to work on is his ball-handling. There were times where it was kind of painful watching him try to handle the ball during a fast break. His bad ball handling cost Tim an assist from arguably one of the best passes of his career.

[AlleyOopNazi]

He has to learn some post moves (maybe call Tim.. :) )and has to develop a reliable mid-range jumper, and after that he could be much more than what is he now. Wait a minute, the FO and ST (& me) both think he will be the future of this franchise... :D

With the previous lockout. He didn't get the usual training camp rundown. He was thrown into the wolves and has played absolutely beyond the expectations of just about everyone. Give him a full off season, hes humble, willing to learn an has the skill sets of an allstar and thats a dangerous combo.

[kaji157]

4 or 5 more years after his contracts expires for sure, Spurs will match when the time comes.

[SpursIndonesia]

Leonard is a good combination of a qualified NBA body and a matured brain, with willingness to improve and be coached, those are the traits of a star in the making IMHO.

[mongo366]

Kawhi will be one of the key pieces of the Spurs moving forward and when the Big 3 finally decides to hang it up. With Kawhi, Splitter, Neal and Green, the future is the Spurs is already looking good.
First, I agree that Kawhi will have a long-term positive impact on our team. He is here to stay.

What makes me nervous when thinking about the future is the idea of who is our best player? While I would be ecstatic if Leonard's game developed to where he resembled Granger or Iguodala (and don't tell me he is better than them), I would worry about falling into the same trap as their teams. You can't win the championship when Granger or Iguodala is your best player.

We would need to add a super-star to that group to really have a chance and that is easier said than done.

[Proxy]

The only reasons I could see him in another uni would be due to a sensible trade... he seems to have all the tools that should make him the player I imagine Utah fantasized Kirilenko being.

[OZWIN]

He's 20 and he's starting on the best team in the league.

He was a crappy three-point shooter in college from a closer distance. Now look at him as an NBA corner three specialist.

He's a sponge. He's gonna be very good.

He will be able to write his ticket in a couple years -- hopefully in SA.There is so much win in this post. I think he will be sticking with the Spurs for awhile...he just fits with the Spurs very well.

[Galileo]

he will be an all-star next season.

[gameFACE]

Hard to say what will happen after TD retires. Most likely, there will be a radical change. But there could be a possibility of building a core around TP in his twilight and Kawhi entering his prime. He's really not a franchise player, though.