Woj: Kawhi Wants Max Contract Extension; No Progress Made in Talks With Spurs

[ElNono]

It's a strange situation. The Spurs can promise him that they'll give him the deal he wants next summer, but they can't put that in writing, lest they be subjected to Wolves-like sanctions. So it comes down to how much Kawhi trusts the FO's verbal agreement.

Unless he has a serious injury/career ender... this is the point his agent is likely pounding on: push to make bank now.

[SnakeBoy]

or if he leaves SA because other team pay him better.

Spurs will be able to offer him more than any other team...he's not leaving.

[dabom]

It's a strange situation. The Spurs can promise him that they'll give him the deal he wants next summer, but they can't put that in writing, lest they be subjected to Wolves-like sanctions. So it comes down to how much Kawhi trusts the FO's verbal agreement.

The Spurs are not one to go back on their words. Very loyal organization. I can only think of one person not getting theirs, and even then, he wouldn't follow orders and was toxic. If the Spurs say they'll do it, they'll do it.
They hurt themselves more by not following their verbal agreement in future player negotiations.

[dabom]

Fortunately you're not Kawhi Leonard, I think he plays better than you.

I don't know nothing about you, instead we know a lot of the kid's life. He isn't precisely a rich boy, he's from Moval, he lost his dad and should secure the future of his mom and his four sisters, so I don't blame him if he wants a big deal, or if he leaves SA because other team pay him better.

You might have missed where he still drives his beater instead of his ferrari or something. Kid is frugal as them come. Winning is a top priority followed by money only in a few players.
His agent is just doing his job.

[wildchild]

Spurs will be able to offer him more than any other team...he's not leaving.

Well, maybe we haven't learned much from Morey/Parsons...

[SnakeBoy]

Well, maybe we haven't learned much from Morey/Parsons...

Kawhi is not leaving but carry on if you want.

[wildchild]

Kid is frugal as them come.

Nobody says the opposite...I didn't say he wants the money to buy a Ferrari I said he wants the money to secure his family future.

[dabom]

Nobody says the opposite...I didn't say he wants the money to buy a Ferrari I said he wants the money to secure his family future.

I bet he has a family to feed.

[Chinook]

Unless he has a serious injury/career ender... this is the point his agent is likely pounding on: push to make bank now.

Indeed. Even a George-like injury that doesn't project to have long-term consequences. But it's hard to make that point to the Spurs. They'd be like, "If you get hurt, you wouldn't be able to earn that contract anyway". It's not fair to expect SA to feel bad about not paying Kawhi to retire.

[Chinook]

The Spurs are not one to go back on their words. Very loyal organization. I can only think of one person not getting theirs, and even then, he wouldn't follow orders and was toxic. If the Spurs say they'll do it, they'll do it.
They hurt themselves more by not following their verbal agreement in future player negotiations.

Yes, and that's why it shouldn't be an issue. But if Leonard breaks his back or something, I do think the Spurs would not give him a contract. It just wouldn't make financial sense. I think they'd take care of his medical bills and set him up with a cushy job in the organization so that he never has to worry about money. But they don't give him $90 Million if he doesn't look like he can earn it.

[ElNono]

Indeed. Even a George-like injury that doesn't project to have long-term consequences. But it's hard to make that point to the Spurs. They'd be like, "If you get hurt, you wouldn't be able to earn that contract anyway". It's not fair to expect SA to feel bad about not paying Kawhi to retire.

But there's no financial loss to the Spurs, as far as such a contract is concerned. Insurance pays it up. Kawhi's agent knows that.

[wildchild]

If he's upset Pop pats him on the ass and says don't worry you'll be taken care of, Leonard says ok...end of story. It's not like the Spurs are dealing with some child like Dwight Howard.

We'll see. If they don't extend him but he gets the minutes and more prominent offensive role that he wants, I wouldn't worry about his future in SA, but he still plays less than 35 minutes and still be 3rd/4th option, his frustration could be an important factor to be taken into account next summer.

[Chinook]

But there's no financial loss to the Spurs, as far as such a contract is concerned. Insurance pays it up. Kawhi's agent knows that.

Insurance pays part of it. There's a 41-game deductible, during which a team is not reimbursed for the salary. And the money stays on the cap regardless, and it hits a little harder, since the Spurs would have to replace Kawhi. After the first year, it's possible the Spurs would get off without paying a cent, but I'm not sure how insurance works for multi-year injuries. Plus, Kawhi would have to never attempt a comeback, lest he wreck the Spurs' cap space.

[Chinook]

CBA FAQ says it's a 41-game deductible, then 80 percent of the salary for the rest of the time the player is injured. So the Spurs would have something to answer to financially regardless.

[spurraider21]

Unless he has a serious injury/career ender... this is the point his agent is likely pounding on: push to make bank now.

yeah, and the spurs answer to that should be he'd have to take less than the max for them to put pen to paper now. there has to be some give and take. you get your max if you wait. can't have your cake and eat it too

[dabom]

at anyone thinking Kawhi is going to have a life-threatening injury where he can't play basketball anymore.
The most I can see is a serious injury where he comes back the next year. He would still command multiple 8figure/year deals.
He is still getting paid if the spurs don't extend him this year even accounting for a serious injury next year.

[ElNono]

Insurance pays part of it. There's a 41-game deductible, during which a team is not reimbursed for the salary. And the money stays on the cap regardless, and it hits a little harder, since the Spurs would have to replace Kawhi. After the first year, it's possible the Spurs would get off without paying a cent, but I'm not sure how insurance works for multi-year injuries. Plus, Kawhi would have to never attempt a comeback, lest he wreck the Spurs' cap space.

The player gets paid. That's why it's called a guaranteed contract. The team might negotiate a buyout at a discount though. The team would also receive a DPE (which equates to 50% of the player contract or the MLE, whichever is less).

All that said, I'm with you the Spurs have no incentive because of the cap considerations. I was just pointing out that Kawhi is risking something here too, especially since this would be his very first big paycheck.

[ElNono]

yeah, and the spurs answer to that should be he'd have to take less than the max for them to put pen to paper now. there has to be some give and take. you get your max if you wait. can't have your cake and eat it too

I don't disagree with this. Don't think his agent is telling him that though.

[spurraider21]

I don't disagree with this. Don't think his agent is telling him that though.

i'm not expecting kiwi and his agent to go through with that, hence the standstill. but its not like kawhi is the only one who is taking risk

[ElNono]

CBA FAQ says it's a 41-game deductible, then 80 percent of the salary for the rest of the time the player is injured. So the Spurs would have something to answer to financially regardless.

Just to clarify, the team gets back 80% of the base salary.

[ElNono]

at anyone thinking Kawhi is going to have a life-threatening injury where he can't play basketball anymore.
The most I can see is a serious injury where he comes back the next year. He would still command multiple 8figure/year deals.
He is still getting paid if the spurs don't extend him this year even accounting for a serious injury next year.

It's unlikely, but there's always a TJ Ford...

[Chinook]

The player gets paid. That's why it's called a guaranteed contract. The team might negotiate a buyout at a discount though. The team would also receive a DPE (which equates to 50% of the player contract or the MLE, whichever is less).

All that said, I'm with you the Spurs have no incentive because of the cap considerations. I was just pointing out that Kawhi is risking something here too, especially since this would be his very first big paycheck.

I know the player gets paid. I was saying that insurance would pay for most of it, but some would still come from the Spurs. But so long as Kawhi doesn't retire, the Spurs would have his salary on their cap, so it would hamper them even if they weren't losing a ton of money.

I don't think your point is misplaced. I was saying that I can understand Leonard's uncertainty, if he feels it. I think things will work out, though. I'm much more concerned about the team using that cap space on someone good. Also, a motivated Leonard is almost certainly a good thing. If he wants to get paid, the dumbest thing he can do is check out mentally. We should see him have a good to great season. Same with Green, hopefully.

[Chinook]

Just to clarify, the team gets back 80% of the base salary.

But for the remainder of the contract, not from the 41 games in the waiting period.

[dabom]

It's unlikely, but there's always a TJ Ford...

[ElNono]

I know the player gets paid. I was saying that insurance would pay for most of it, but some would still come from the Spurs. But so long as Kawhi doesn't retire, the Spurs would have his salary on their cap, so it would hamper them even if they weren't losing a ton of money.

I don't think your point is misplaced. I was saying that I can understand Leonard's uncertainty, if he feels it. I think things will work out, though. I'm much more concerned about the team using that cap space on someone good. Also, a motivated Leonard is almost certainly a good thing. If he wants to get paid, the dumbest thing he can do is check out mentally. We should see him have a good to great season. Same with Green, hopefully.

Per the CBA #63, if it's career-ending, his salary doesn't count against the cap after the team waives him, and after 60 days or one year (check the faq for details). The player still gets paid.

I've been always on the opinion they should just pay him next summer, but I also understand the player's anxiety.

But for the remainder of the contract, not from the 41 games in the waiting period.

My understanding (reading up on the Rose case) is that while insurance is obtained on a year to year basis, after the 41 games, the remainder of the season is covered, then if the player cannot play the next season, all 82 games are covered and so on (at 80% of base).