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

[exstatic]

As the guys said here, the bird contract could be some like 105M/5Y next summer, the Spurs'll want a discount and the situation will be the same, he wants the max, the Spurs want a pay cut...they won't reach agreement, won't sign the bird contract.
That's why I think the Spurs'll match the max offer (some 3years-fourth year player option offer) and he'll enter free agency in 2017

Your figure is way high for Kawhi's extension or another team's offer. For a player with his time in the NBA, he can get 5/$90M.

[Chinook]

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.

That's true, but "career-ending" means that the player never plays another game. If Kawhi tries to make a return after sitting out for two year, the Spurs instantly get hit with a huge cap charge, even if the comeback is with another team. That's why Portland amnestied Roy instead of just injury-waiving him (and it's a great thing they did that).

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).

Again, true. And that's what I was getting at. The Spurs would still owe Leonard some money even in future years, but that first year, only about 40 percent of his contract would be covered, provided the company didn't exclude him in the first place. It's possible they would be able to do so in 2015, because the extension may be considered a new contract.

[Chinook]

Your figure is way high for Kawhi's extension or another team's offer. For a player with his time in the NBA, he can get 5/$90M.

WC's numbers come from my spit-balling. There's talk of the cap undergoing a mini-jump next summer. That would raise the cap considerably from what they're currently projecting. Along with that comes an increase in new max contracts. If the cap rises to $76 Million, for example, then Leonard's max is $105M/5. Even if it jumps to a modest $71 Million, the max would be $98M/5.

[ElNono]

That's true, but "career-ending" means that the player never plays another game. If Kawhi tries to make a return after sitting out for two year, the Spurs instantly get hit with a huge cap charge, even if the comeback is with another team. That's why Portland amnestied Roy instead of just injury-waiving him (and it's a great thing they did that).

Well, I was pointing out the "career-ending" case... but, regardless, the reality is the Spurs would survive. You could make the argument that such a scenario for Kawhi, on the other hand, would be devastating. And that, I think, it's what most agents drill to a player's head.

It's not my money though, I was just illustrating there's an extra risk implied in waiting for the player that was not mentioned, that's all. Carry on.

[objective]

Kawhi's max deal will be the fifth they've given out in the past 15 years

I'm not so sure about that. My memory is that Parker and Ginobili never received the max of their years of service. Duncan signed a max in 2000 and I think another max in 2003. That's all I count for max deals.

[Chinook]

My memory is that Parker and Ginobili never received the max of their years of service.

They both got max extensions. Ginobili's was actually pretty close to his FA max. Parker's wasn't, but that's what happens when you extend.

[objective]

I suppose, the extensions were only maxed in regards to the raises based on the ending year of the then current deal, but not free agent maxes. Manu was capable of a free agent deal starting at 16 based on his years of service and the cap numbers for the 10-11 season.

When compared to free agent max deals, they weren't the same, which is why I didn't think of them that way. Like how Bosh didn't even get the full max in 2010 but still was making about 2.5 more a year as a FA signing even with a year less in experience

[Richie]

WC's numbers come from my spit-balling. There's talk of the cap undergoing a mini-jump next summer. That would raise the cap considerably from what they're currently projecting. Along with that comes an increase in new max contracts. If the cap rises to $76 Million, for example, then Leonard's max is $105M/5. Even if it jumps to a modest $71 Million, the max would be $98M/5.

While possible, I think this is unlikely because the owners would be choosing to give the players more money. It would not be in the interest of any team looking to sign a player to a long term deal this summer to allow the cap to jump because as you have pointed out, it means their contract becomes more expensive.

I seriously doubt there will be any 'smoothing' for the new TV deal factored in to next years cap number.

[Richie]

Also with Pau coming out and saying he thinks it's possible that Marc could go to New York, it's not cut and dry that he stays in Memphis. Making sure the Spurs has the opportunity to get in to that conversation should be a top priority for the front office.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

At least I'm not alone...Sam Amick asks if the Spurs are making a mistake with Leonard.




http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...pson/18176469/

That's looking way too much into it. Pop has openly said Kawhi is leading the team into the post-Duncan era. All the Spurs have to do is say "Kawhi, you're getting your max contract. Just sign it next summer instead."

[kaji157]

Leonard is a great player, but not a cornerstone player by any means. Spurs should not max out by themselves a player that is having the ability to have his weaknesses by playing alongside 3 hall of famers.
Spurs should only max out a player like Anthony Davis or as an exception, LeBron. No one else.
What i would do is match the best offer Leonard could get next offseason, and then we will have 3 to 4 years to se what kind of player Leonard really is.
If he is the star that can carry a team that only has Tony Parker, then great, max him by then. But not now.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

What i would do is match the best offer Leonard could get next offseason, and then we will have 3 to 4 years to se what kind of player Leonard really is.

The bottom line is Leonard will be offered a max deal next year by another GM.

They will do it for one of two reasons (or both).

1. They want Leonard on their team and feel he's worth it
2. They want to force the Spurs' hand into paying him and affect their future maneuverability.

Either way, Leonard will get his offer.

Spurs are playing a dangerous game IMO.

If anyone doesn't think Leonard will get the max, they obviously haven't been following recent signings (i.e. Hayward, Parsons to name 2)

[kaji157]

The bottom line is Leonard will be offered a max deal next year by another GM.

They will do it for one of two reasons (or both).

1. They want Leonard on their team and feel he's worth it
2. They want to force the Spurs' hand into paying him and affect their future maneuverability.

Either way, Leonard will get his offer.

Spurs are playing a dangerous game IMO.

If anyone doesn't think Leonard will get the max, they obviously haven't been following recent signings (i.e. Hayward, Parsons to name 2)

Oh i do, but other teams could not offer as many years as the Spurs.
And i think the key for us is to have a few years of Leonard without Tim and Manu to see how good he really is on offense.
I assure you, that if Leonard gets a max deal 4 years worth, he won´t be a max player in 4 years. Because the Spurs won´t be championship caliber anymore, and that will be reflected on their players. Also the little media coverage we get right now is because 1) we are a great team, 2) the big 3, friends, heroes, legacy storyline. Once that is over, it would be a lot harder for players in the Spurs to get media attention.

[dabom]

Oh i do, but other teams could not offer as many years as the Spurs.
And i think the key for us is to have a few years of Leonard without Tim and Manu to see how good he really is on offense.
I assure you, that if Leonard gets a max deal 4 years worth, he won´t be a max player in 4 years. Because the Spurs won´t be championship caliber anymore, and that will be reflected on their players. Also the little media coverage we get right now is because 1) we are a great team, 2) the big 3, friends, heroes, legacy storyline. Once that is over, it would be a lot harder for players in the Spurs to get media attention.

Kawhi is worth the max for his defense. The numbers on offense will stay the same because of our system. Green, Splitter, and Kawhi can up their ppg if manu and tim call it quits. We will still be a contender even if those guys leave.

[Dex]

Spurs just need to position the fact that he'll get his max next year, and it will also give them more flexibility to put a better team around him.

[testies]

Lol at the idiots chanting "MVP", yes, yes, we know you guys badly wanted a black american as MVP, not Ginobili. But now you pay the price.

If anyone is re ed enough to pay the max for Leonard, go for it. I know Buford won't this up

[benstanfield]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/spurs-s...181115259.html

[benstanfield]

Alienating Kawhi's management and back-tracking on all of the face of the franchise talk is apparently worth waiting a year to see if he'll blow out a knee. Hmm.

[spurraider21]

if leonard signs a 4 year max elsewhere the spurs got exactly what they wanted. matching that offer would give us 4 years of leonard, and the $ would be less than if we outright offered him a max

[loveforthegame]

Leonard is so going to sign a Parsons like deal next summer. Spurs probably match but only have him short term.

[cjw]

Leonard is so going to sign a Parsons like deal next summer. Spurs probably match but only have him short term.

That's my worry but some on here have said that you can still throw the full max at him to match for full years.

He will be offered the full max the day after the postseason and may then agree to hold off on signing until FA plays out for a few days.

[Brunodf]

Thank God they didn't overreact and paid him the max

[Hoops Czar]

if leonard signs a 4 year max elsewhere the spurs got exactly what they wanted. matching that offer would give us 4 years of leonard, and the $ would be less than if we outright offered him a max

Not really. Some team is going to intentionally overpay by leaps and bounds knowing full well the Spurs will match any offer. This could impact their offseason spending on other free agents.

[Brunodf]

Not really. Some team is going to intentionally overpay by leaps and bounds knowing full well the Spurs will match any offer. This could impact their offseason spending on other free agents.

Yeah but if Kawhi is as smart as it seems he will not sign and tell the Spurs, then the Spurs will match...Just like they did with Splitter...

[toki9]

Hm...I wonder if there is a tacit side deal made to maximize the Spurs' ability to get free agents around Kawhi next summer...