Jalen Rose: Kawhi Wants out of SA

[Spur|n|Austin]

Either way, this isn't good.

Kawhi wouldn't be the player he is today if it wasn't for Spurs organization. That being said, could this be Spurs jabber to rid themselves of who they've determined is an ever-injured Kawhi? If it truly is a Hardaway/Hill scenario, it might be best to have him move on before having to offer the supermax.

[phxspurfan]

If I were a betting man (which I am) I'd say Jalen's sources (and possibly SAS' as well since he's media too) are Monroe and the other SA reporter he mentioned. They probably exchanged texts or a call and confirmed there is some dissent between Leonard's camp and the Spurs FO.

What makes this whole thing super weird is the fact that the team doctors found no structural issues (if that report is true) with Leonard's quad, yet Leonard still reports feeling pain enough to sit a huge portion of the season. Unless he's doing this half out of rehab half sitting out style (like what you see in the NFL when RBs/WRs are unhappy).

[MaNu4Tres]

Thanks for sharing.

sounds to me like Kawhi is holding himself out. which goes right with what Pop said, that he didn't have confidence in his body to be playing and that he wasn't well enough.

That should silence the spurstalk fan mob that was arguing it was all a Pop shtick and that Kawhi ought to be playing bcczzzzzz...

In reality Kawhi hasn't been that well and he's looking to get better. but I know that will not end the trolling.

That's from the same source who said Kawhi was worried about the roster back in October... 3 months after FA period..

[SAGirl]

That's from the same source who said Kawhi was worried about the roster back in October... 3 months after FA period..

Unlike Chinook I disagree the summer moves and the roster they signed is A-ok... but I think the point he made about the injury being crucial is key personally.

That is where this chilling is coming from. I don't credit the statements about Kawhi being concerned for the roster, personally.. even though I myself am concerned about this roster.

[TDomination]

If only we were like Cleveland where we could attract big name free agents like Love, Thomas, Rose, Wade. They have such a great team.

Kawhi knows it takes more than big name players to win in this league. You do need some but not everyone is going to make a super team like the warriors. You need the right parts, the right pieces. So I call B.S. about him wanting to leave SA because we can't attract big FA's.

Kyrie did want to come here. Aldridge did come here, Rudy Gay signed with us.

Mills was a bad signing but that happens to a lot of teams.

Idk I just don't see this being the main issue. I do believe he's frustrated but I just think it's because of his injury. Not being able to finish playoffs last year and hardly play this year is taking it's toll on him.

[Seventyniner]

again not sure why anybody would take Jalen ing Rose seriously tbh...

As I said probably some tensions between Kawhi staff / crew and FO over injury treatment and rehab and maybe some of his crew complaining here and there about Spurs not getting sufficient help for Kawhi. It is nevertheless very unlikely that those rumors come from Kawhi, dude is imho entirely focused on his rehad and try to not freak out about a possible grant hill ... you think he would throw under the bus the organization when he was not able to play 10 games this season ? also very doubtful when you know a bit his personality.

Wizard's First Rule: People will believe anything if they either want it to be true or are afraid that it is.

[Dre_7]

That's exactly how you play this if you're Leonard's de-facto agent. You let the story leak (or feed it and state the terms of the leak) and then back off to preserve your own image. But the statement is made and well heard at this point. Spurs have to do something otherwise they will lose Leonard.

If that is true, then I would feel really comfortable. They will make sure to do whatever it takes to keep him happy in San Antonio.

[bic50]

Either way, this isn't good.

Kawhi wouldn't be the player he is today if it wasn't for Spurs organization. That being said, could this be Spurs jabber to rid themselves of who they've determined is an ever-injured Kawhi? If it truly is a Hardaway/Hill scenario, it might be best to have him move on before having to offer the supermax.

Wrong

[Clipper Nation]

Take this with a grain of salt, if you want to believe it.

https://www.si.com/sports-illustrate...anuary-23-2018

Quote:

Jared Zwerling: "I had a phone conversation yesterday with Dennis Robertson, Kawhi's uncle and business manager, who is based in New Jersey. Dennis called me and we had a nice chat. Before Dennis called me he said he had a conversation with RC Buford, GM of the Spurs, and said they had a great conversation. Overall, here's the consensus: the story is farthest from the truth. That was a quote from Dennis. We talked about the situation. Really, there's no issue between Kawhi and the Spurs. Kawhi has the utmost respect for Popovich and Buford. It's not about any issues internally. This is about not having any more setbacks. There's no re-injury right now. The focus is strengthening that left quad. It's really important because the quad is an injury that can come back and bite you. It's an injury you can get again and re-injure a lot easily, so it's about strengthening that quad and keeping Kawhi focused on getting back to that strength to help him into the NBA situations. That's the focus right now."

Again, what's he going to say? If Kawhi really does want out, his agent still isn't going to tell it to the whole world and diminish his trade value.

[Big Empty]

Kawhi hasn't come out and denied anything. Just the Spurs and his uncle. To me that's the smoking gun.

[coachmac87]

When bad news goes to a group of people, those people will flock to anyone who gives them hope/good news. See: Hitler and Post World War I Germany.

Hence why I said take it with a grain of salt. Of course Kawhi's uncle isn't gonna say " yeah, he wants out that ". It's just damage control until we hear it straight from Kawhi.

It could be damage control even if it came from Kawhi..

I’ve stated in my 2020 thread that the Spurs fans and PATFO shouldn’t feel comfortable until he signs another deal..

[Darius Bieber]

Again, what's he going to say? If Kawhi really does want out, his agent still isn't going to tell it to the whole world and diminish his trade value.

Exactly, that's why I said take it with a grain of salt tbh

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Wow really? Neymar had his uncle involved as well? That's hilarious actually.

Haha yeah his father is his agent as well and in soccer they give out a ton of signing bonuses to the agent as well. Dealing with family members in sports is such BS, but at least Kawhi's uncle was willing to put these rumors to rest.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

this is common knowledge in Brazil, Neymar's father is one of the most greedy guys in the world of football, in less than two years Neymar will be in Madrid

After which he will be completely dead to me if he signs for them.

[Ozballer]

I always thought that the very odd re signing of Aldridge and Pop eating humble pie about this situation had more to do with some real trouble with Kawhi than LaMarcus himself. And the rushed signings of Gasol and Patty for that matter...

[spurraider21]

If only we were like Cleveland where we could attract big name free agents like Love, Thomas, Rose, Wade. They have such a great team.

Kawhi knows it takes more than big name players to win in this league. You do need some but not everyone is going to make a super team like the warriors. You need the right parts, the right pieces. So I call B.S. about him wanting to leave SA because we can't attract big FA's.

Kyrie did want to come here. Aldridge did come here, Rudy Gay signed with us.

Mills was a bad signing but that happens to a lot of teams.

Idk I just don't see this being the main issue. I do believe he's frustrated but I just think it's because of his injury. Not being able to finish playoffs last year and hardly play this year is taking it's toll on him.

players are attracted to cleveland because of lebron. they know if they go there, they're making the finals. kawhi in the west doesn't have that same pull

we brought in LMA a year removed from winning a championship, while duncan was playing for peanuts and before the warriors had KD

[bic50]

Kawhi hasn't come out and denied anything. Just the Spurs and his uncle. To me that's the smoking gun.

He really doesn't have to.

[BatManu20]

Kawhi officially responds to the rumors that he wants out of SA! Straight from the horse's mouth.

[bklynspursfan]

Kawhi officially responds to the rumors that he wants out of SA! Straight from the horse's mouth.

#KawhiOut

[John B]

But Kawhi is not really out there recruiting.

[Chinook]

Kawhi officially responds to the rumors that he wants out of SA! Straight from the horse's mouth.

Feels like watching a cut scene in recent 2Ks.

[phxspurfan]

Again, what's he going to say? If Kawhi really does want out, his agent still isn't going to tell it to the whole world and diminish his trade value.

Also by being a pain in the ass during the middle of his contract, he could be perceived as a premadonna and annoying, possibly ruling out some suitors. So the messaging has to be done carefully and not directly. Like via an undisclosed media leak.

[Down Under]

Attracting free agents - it's San Antonio, they have gotten 1 top 20 player to this team in the past 50 years