Kawhis Uncle wants Kawhi in LA

[SAGirl]

We read "rumors" about LMA being unhappy on media after 2015-16 season. Jabari Young wrote an article about it

I guess you posted about it during 2016-17 season, too.

He was unhappy but kept that within his circle and he tried to please Pop all the time despite his unhappiness,until he couldn't take it anymore. Pop himself said that he was taken aback and surprised when LMA came clean with What he thought and what he felt. That happened in the offseason. It's admirable for LMA to have kept that inside and not harm the team's chemistry etc. During the season.

[spurs2112]

Don't know if y'all seen this yet but this doesn't sound like a disgruntled teammate to me. I don't know if this is pre or post "misdiagnosis ".

[TheDoctor]

Don't know if y'all seen this yet but this doesn't sound like a disgruntled teammate to me. I don't know if this is pre or post "misdiagnosis ".

dude, that media day vid is old as .

[spurs2112]

Yea, but what I'm trying to say is he doesn't seem upset about the roster, talks good about Aldridge. But then again I guess you're gonna say all the right things anyways.

[spurs10]

Don't know if y'all seen this yet but this doesn't sound like a disgruntled teammate to me. I don't know if this is pre or post "misdiagnosis ".

Wonder when this is? He’s seems fine. Anyone recognize this?

[Dre_7]

Pop just said he would be surprised if Kawhi returns this season. That is all I need to hear. Not expecting him back now.

[spurs10]

dude, that media day vid is old as .

Okay...I didn’t remember this.

[MaNu4Tres]

Reason why Pop will be surprised if Kawhi is back this year is because it's more than the injury.

[DPG21920]

Reason why Pop will be surprised if Kawhi is back this year is because it's more than the injury.

But what does sitting out accomplish if Kawhi wants out?

[romsho]

So if he wants out, how does not playing help achieve that goal? If its a trade he seeks, then diminishing his value by not playing doesn't seem logical. While he may actually want out of San Antonio, its probably not even part of the reason he isn't playing. I'm more inclined to take it at face value- he's not right physically. Ultimately, he wants to be paid as much $ as possible long term. Not one part of this current situation helps that. This reminds me of when Hakeem was with the Rockets and team doctors cleared him to play but he said he wasn't ready-eventually they made amends and won 2 championships. But it was ugly at the time.

Right.

[apalisoc_9]

But what does sitting out accomplish if Kawhi wants out?

Probably spurs testing him and seeing if he quits what he is doing...and just play. If his camp feels like this is the way out, maybe it is. Who knows.

[DPG21920]

Probably spurs testing him and seeing if he quits what he is doing...and just play. If his camp feels like this is the way out, maybe it is. Who knows.

I really don’t see how his camp can think that him not playing is the way to force himself out.

[MaNu4Tres]

But what does sitting out accomplish if Kawhi wants out?

Perhaps Spurs are mutual with the decision for him to sit out if he's not mentally committed to the team. It's always team first with Pop.

Imo -- Kawhi is just being cautious with his quad ( he's been medically cleared) and at the same time he's not mentally committed to the Spurs. He's in his own world with his Uncle being the gatekeeper that wants him elsewhere.

[Das Texan]

I really don’t see how his camp can think that him not playing is the way to force himself out.

Because Spurs will get pissed at him not playing and eating up all the cap space he gets?

[Clipper Nation]

Sam Amick mentioned early on Kawhi & his group were on board with how the Spurs handled certain things in the media and their culture and what not, but over time they haven't always been on the same page. Sounded like he was holding back a little and was vague, but does make some sense I guess. It was in this podcast from a month ago. Maybe his uncle does want him in LA so he can get more recognition and spotlight. Don't know what Kawhi wants tho.

http://hoopshype.com/rumor/1158649/

Sounds like Poop's ego is going to make Kawhi want to join the Clippers. West understands the stars, whereas Poop only cares about his own ego.

[bklynspursfan]

Sounds like Poop's ego is going to make Kawhi want to join the Clippers. West understands the stars, whereas Poop only cares about his own ego.

Yea, sure. That's what it is . Lolz

[spurs2112]

But what does sitting out accomplish if Kawhi wants out?

This is a stretch but what if the uncle doesn't want the Spurs to offer the super max so if Kawhi leaves the blame falls on the Spurs. They can say, well they didn't offer what we wanted so we left. If they do offer the super max and Kawhi declines then we know there was some truth to him wanting out and this injury becomes suspect. I honestly feel Kawhi wouldn't do something like this but who knows with all these rumors (and all we have is rumors) I don't know what to think anymore. Maybe I'm just being too conspiratorial

[DPG21920]

Because Spurs will get pissed at him not playing and eating up all the cap space he gets?

I don’t see how that leads to anything for Kawhi though. In fact, SA can dock him pay for failing to play if they do down that path and it creates a big issue.

[TD 21]

Perhaps Spurs are mutual with the decision for him to sit out if he's not mentally committed to the team. It's always team first with Pop.

Imo -- Kawhi is just being cautious with his quad ( he's been medically cleared) and at the same time he's not mentally committed to the Spurs. He's in his own world with his Uncle being the gatekeeper that wants him elsewhere.

I know we discussed this, but the more I think about if, that doesn't make sense. If it were that bad, the only rational thing to do would have been to have him playing regularly leading up to the trade deadline, so that they could have showcased his being healthy and traded him for a bounty.

The way this is going, if he wants out, teams will be at least hesitant offering fair value and if in fact Spurs are prepared to offer the super max this summer, they'd obviously want to force him to turn that down before accepting a second rate package. Even if he accepted it but still wanted to be traded, teams would still be hesitant offering fair value until they know he's not damaged goods. So either way, it was in both Spurs and his best interest for him to play.

[Russ]

He's in his own world with his Uncle being the gatekeeper that wants him elsewhere.

I remember his Uncle as a player now -- LaVar Leonard.

[Russ]

So either way, it was in both Spurs and his best interest for him to play.

Not if he wants to go to a team that doesn't have to deplete its roster to acquire him.

[Keepin' it real]

Perhaps Spurs are mutual with the decision for him to sit out if he's not mentally committed to the team. It's always team first with Pop.

Imo -- Kawhi is just being cautious with his quad ( he's been medically cleared) and at the same time he's not mentally committed to the Spurs. He's in his own world with his Uncle being the gatekeeper that wants him elsewhere.

Cautious he says!!!

[MaNu4Tres]

I know we discussed this, but the more I think about if, that doesn't make sense. If it were that bad, the only rational thing to do would have been to have him playing regularly leading up to the trade deadline, so that they could have showcased his being healthy and traded him for a bounty.

The way this is going, if he wants out, teams will be at least hesitant offering fair value and if in fact Spurs are prepared to offer the super max this summer, they'd obviously want to force him to turn that down before accepting a second rate package. Even if he accepted it but still wanted to be traded, teams would still be hesitant offering fair value until they know he's not damaged goods. So either way, it was in both Spurs and his best interest for him to play.

I'll give a few more important puzzle pieces.

Uncle Robertson is calling all the shots regarding Kawhi, not the Spurs. Spurs are not the decision makers with Kawhi right now and haven't been for months. Spurs are irritated w/ the way Robertson has been influential with Kawhi ( he's no longer mentally committed to the team), and irritated with how its puts them in a bad spot whenever or if they decide to trade him this summer.

Spurs have no control over Kawhi right now, and are letting that go. However they are still the team that is paying him, but in all honesty they'd rather him sit out if he's not committed to the team.

Kawhi is only committed to Kawhi right now -- I think if anyone can think objectively for a second they can see that.

[TD 21]

Not if he wants to go to a team that doesn't have to deplete its roster to acquire him.

Again, even if Leonard threatened to walk in '19, they'd still probably refuse to trade him until he showed he was back in form to start next season.

I'll give a few more important puzzle pieces.

Uncle Robertson is calling all the shots regarding Kawhi, not the Spurs. Spurs are not the decision makers with Kawhi right now and haven't been for months. Spurs are irritated w/ the way Robertson has been influential with Kawhi ( he's no longer mentally committed to the team), and irritated with how its puts them in a bad spot whenever or if they decide to trade him this summer.

Spurs have no control over Kawhi right now, and are letting that go. However they are still the team that is paying him, but in all honesty they'd rather him sit out if he's not committed to the team.

Kawhi is only committed to Kawhi right now -- I think if anyone can think objectively for a second they can see that.

Fair enough, but the NBA isn't going to allow a player's family member to decide whether a healthy player plays or not. There's been plenty of players who wanted out, but played until a trade came to fruition. You don't just get to do whatever you want and I doubt Spurs would be complicit in that.

[MaNu4Tres]

Again, even if Leonard threatened to walk in '19, they'd still probably refuse to trade him until he showed he was back in form to start next season.

Fair enough, but the NBA isn't going to allow a player's family member to decide whether a healthy player plays or not. There's been plenty of players who wanted out, but played until a trade came to fruition. You don't just get to do whatever you want and I doubt Spurs would be complicit in that.

If Spurs were trying to mend the relationship and reel him back in, I think the right approach is the patient, give you your space/ we trust you and care your long term health approach, no?

This has literally put the Spurs in a spot they have never experienced before.

Blame Uncle Robertson.