Yahoo Sports: Lakers "recalibrating their focus" from LeBron to 2019 class (Kawhi)

[Robz4000]

I don't know why you're in such a hurry to give Leonard away for crap. Denver, LA, and NYK aren't going to have top 3 picks to trade and LOL at the idea of Kawhi accepting a trade to Sacramento to go play cherry picker D. If they hold on to Kawhi there's a chance he walks and they team is forced into a long and painful rebuild, but it they trade him that long and painful rebuild happens with 100% odds.

If they don't trade Kawhi and he walks they might never be relevant again. If they trade him they can develop a foundation that makes a rebuild shorter. Kawhi doesn't have a no-trade clause, Spurs can send him wherever; it would go against their MO but at this point they're in uncharted territory.

[cd98]

If Kawhi goes to the Lakers, he deserves LaVar Ball.

[Keepin' it real]

ST logic: leonard is done and will never be the same player again; unless he goes to another team, then he becomes a hall of famer again.

Because on other teams, he would play instead of holding out all season ... err, uhh, I mean instead of suffering from "tendinopathy." nudge nudge wink wink

[baseline bum]

If they don't trade Kawhi and he walks they might never be relevant again. If they trade him they can develop a foundation that makes a rebuild shorter. Kawhi doesn't have a no-trade clause, Spurs can send him wherever; it would go against their MO but at this point they're in uncharted territory.

What makes you think the Spurs would be getting anything useful in trade for Leonard? He effectively has a no trade clause when he can just walk in a year if they trade him next year, so you're only going to get in exchange if you send him to anything but a preferred destination. There is nothing realistic the Spurs can get for Leonard that will keep them from an ugly and long rebuild without him.

[Clipper Nation]

Could be wrong, but Kawhi is one of the last stars I'd ever see joining the Lakers. Hard to imagine someone with his personality/demeanor enjoying being a part of that circus.

[Robz4000]

What makes you think the Spurs would be getting anything useful in trade for Leonard? He effectively has a no trade clause when he can just walk in a year if they trade him next year, so you're only going to get in exchange if you send him to anything but a preferred destination. There is nothing realistic the Spurs can get for Leonard that will keep them from an ugly and long rebuild without him.

Like I said, there are some desperate teams out there and Kawhi is a Top 3 player in the world. If he's as good as gone from SA, the Spurs can get something for him. It obviously won't be equal to Kawhi, but it'll make the rebuild potentially easier. Really sucks we're getting to this point but it is what it is.

[baseline bum]

Like I said, there are some desperate teams out there and Kawhi is a Top 3 player in the world. If he's as good as gone from SA, the Spurs can get something for him. It obviously won't be equal to Kawhi, but it'll make the rebuild potentially easier. Really sucks we're getting to this point but it is what it is.

What the Spurs would be looking at in exchange is overpaid scrub players who don't fit on winning teams. Eg SuperCam hoping to get a loser like Oladipo. You get bent over in trades when you move an MVP candidate. Oladipo kind of players are a dime a dozen and the Spurs will have no trouble finding someone to put up empty stats while leading the team to the lottery if they lose Kawhi for nothing. There is not a lot of difference IMO between Kawhi walking and the Spurs trading Kawhi for a couple of warm bodies.

[BatManu20]

[Robz4000]

What the Spurs would be looking at in exchange is overpaid scrub players who don't fit on winning teams. Eg SuperCam hoping to get a loser like Oladipo. You get bent over in trades when you move an MVP candidate. Oladipo kind of players are a dime a dozen and the Spurs will have no trouble finding someone to put up empty stats while leading the team to the lottery if they lose Kawhi for nothing. There is not a lot of difference IMO between Kawhi walking and the Spurs trading Kawhi for a couple of warm bodies.

There definitely is if the Spurs can land a Top 5 pick. Kawhi isn't PG13 who broadcasted that he'd only sign with the Lakers.

[MaNu4Tres]

What makes you think the Spurs would be getting anything useful in trade for Leonard? He effectively has a no trade clause when he can just walk in a year if they trade him next year, so you're only going to get in exchange if you send him to anything but a preferred destination. There is nothing realistic the Spurs can get for Leonard that will keep them from an ugly and long rebuild without him.

Kawhi doesn't have a "No Trade Clause".

Lol at Spurs can't get anything useful for Leonard.

Look no one wants to see him gone, but if it comes down to it, Spurs can definitely get something valuable in return for Kawhi.

[baseline bum]

Kawhi doesn't have a "No Trade Clause".

Lol at Spurs can't get anything useful for Leonard.

Look no one wants to see him gone, but if it comes down to it, Spurs can definitely get something valuable in return for Kawhi.

I said an effective no trade clause, just like Paul George had that kept Indiana from getting anything decent from Boston. Who are you trading Kawhi for?

[TheGreatYacht]

[NASpurs]

[MaNu4Tres]

I said an effective no trade clause, just like Paul George had that kept Indiana from getting anything decent from Boston. Who are you trading Kawhi for?

He has no trade clause . And even though he has a year and half left before his player option, he was just 2nd in MVP voting the past two years and is the resounding best two way player in the game.

I'd trade Kawhi to Boston for Tatum, Brown, Morris, Memphis 19' 1st. If that's asking for too much, I'd probably settle for Brown, Morris, Lakers 18' 1st, Memphis 19' 1st if Kawhi wants out.

If Kawhi doesn't want out, then obviously you're not trading him.

If Spurs can't get anything close to that type of value, then I'd just keep him. Kawhi should garner more value than Kyrie and Paul George. IMO Boston would be crazy to say no to Brown, Morris, LA 1st, MEM 1st.

[Brazil]

Could be wrong, but Kawhi is one of the last stars I'd ever see joining the Lakers. Hard to imagine someone with his personality/demeanor enjoying being a part of that circus.

holy , for once I agree with you on something

[Clipper Nation]

Reality:

[baseline bum]

He has no trade clause . And even though he has a year and half left before his player option, he was just 2nd in MVP voting the past two years and is the resounding best two way player in the game.

I'd trade Kawhi to Boston for Tatum, Brown, Morris, Memphis 19' 1st. If that's asking for too much, I'd probably settle for Brown, Morris, Lakers 18' 1st, Memphis 19' 1st if Kawhi wants out.

If Kawhi doesn't want out, then obviously you're not trading him.

If Spurs can't get anything close to that type of value, then I'd just keep him. Kawhi should garner more value than Kyrie and Paul George. IMO Boston would be crazy to say no to Brown, Morris, LA 1st, MEM 1st.

I suppose if Kawhi tells the team he is 100% leaving I'd do that first option at the trade deadline next year. That's about the only good trade I have seen anyone propose for him and Boston would jump on that in a second if Leonard would agree to an extension.

[apalisoc_9]

Reality:

I had this as my signature in 2016 saying he was gonna leave.

Vanilla casuals

[apalisoc_9]

Son i cant see ..what is it?

[MaNu4Tres]

I suppose if Kawhi tells the team he is 100% leaving I'd do that first option at the trade deadline next year. That's about the only good trade I have seen anyone propose for him and Boston would jump on that in a second if Leonard would agree to an extension.

If Kawhi wants to leave, the sooner Spurs can do the trade the better value they get in return, IMO. I wouldn't wait til next deadline if he wants out.

1) Tatum and Brown will or should increase their value exponentially.

2) Boston will use the extension factor as leverage, even more so, against the Spurs since the time-frame is very short (in the hypothetical, wait til next trade deadline).

3) If we go into next season with it known Kawhi didn't sign the Super Max even after the Spurs offered, the offers won't be as fruitful.

If Kawhi is unhappy and wants out, Spurs are better off pulling the trigger sooner rather than later.

Hopefully whatever is going on can be put in the past and Kawhi and Spurs can make amends -- but if it can't.... then get him out of here by the summer.

[DJR210]

If Kawhi was to leave I could see him wanting to go back to SoCal.. back to his assburgers comfort zone region

[Brunodf]

It wouldn't surprise me tbh, Kawhi seems like the kind of guy that would like to play in LA

[r0drig0lac]

It wouldn't surprise me tbh, Kawhi seems like the kind of guy that would like to play in LA

humm..why?

[8FOR!3]

Unless you get Herschel Walker-trade like return then you just let him walk and start rebuilding from there. You don't accept players who are just going to lead to another 5 or so years of mediocrity.

[baseline bum]

If Kawhi wants to leave, the sooner Spurs can do the trade the better value they get in return, IMO. I wouldn't wait til next deadline if he wants out.

1) Tatum and Brown will or should increase their value exponentially.

2) Boston will use the extension factor as leverage, even more so, against the Spurs since the time-frame is very short (in the hypothetical, wait til next trade deadline).

3) If we go into next season with it known Kawhi didn't sign the Super Max even after the Spurs offered, the offers won't be as fruitful.

If Kawhi is unhappy and wants out, Spurs are better off pulling the trigger sooner rather than later.

Hopefully whatever is going on can be put in the past and Kawhi and Spurs can make amends -- but if it can't.... then get him out of here by the summer.

Boston would have no leverage since they couldn't sign Kawhi outright and they would have a of a time trying to clear $40 million off their cap to be able to make a run at him in free agency.