Stephen A Smith: "From what my sources told me, Kawhi Leonard met with Gregg Popovich

[r0drig0lac]

Jerry West is working hard to get Kawhi to the Clippers. Let them have him instead of the Lakers. He’d be in his beloved LA. Get their two first round picks, Tobias and some other assets to match the salary. Sign and trade if possible to get him stuck at Clippers for years, not one year. I’d be happy with that. Let’s see he lead that team. I know he’s the best 2 or 3 players in the league, but he’s not a leader. In a lot of ways, he is a great system player in Spurs system. Let’s see he proves this wrong. I doubt it. He’s not a LeBron or a KD. Without a LeBron, a CP3 or a great coach to draw up for him, I doubt he makes it. At best he’d be another Jimmy Butler.

Kawhi may be the biggest beta in the world, and if healthy, he's a better basketball player than Kevin Durant (there are at least 10 players who can win 2 straight les with gsw instead of Durant)

ps: I still hope Kawhi has a serious injury in his first game for the Lakers

[dbreiden83080]

Likely true, although 99% of what comes out of SAS mouth is bull . Who in SA in the know would tell him anything exactly? The whole "My sources" routine is so comical in sports and media these days..

[RD2191]

Likely true, although 99% of what comes out of SAS mouth is bull . Who in SA in the know would tell him anything exactly? The whole "My sources" routine is so comical in sports and media these days..

Jabari?

[cd021]

If it is inevitable that Leonard will end up in LA, I would put him with the Clippers before Lakers. Take both Clippers first round picks, Tobias Harris, and sign and trade Harrell.

The Clippers are only offering number 12 and Harris for Kawhi but both firsts and Harris is better than any of the the Laker's potential trash packages.

[SpursDynasty85]

The Clippers are only offering number 12 and Harris for Kawhi but both firsts and Harris is better than any of the the Laker's potential trash packages.

At first I thought even both picks were bad but then I saw how little Tobias Harris is being paid over the next 3 years and it looks pretty good. Saves us money to go after another good free agent this year or next year as well. Package all 3 picks for a top 4 and you have even more upside. Basically top 4 plus contract friendly Harris. Sounds good to me.

[Marcus Bryant]

Boston and Philly can offer better deals, just need to wait.

[Kori Ellis]

Side note: Kawhi's uncle is paid by Kawhi's out-of-the-trunk agent as a marketing or PR person, right? So, if Kawhi's uncle has been talking to the Lakers (or any other team), how is it NOT tampering? I thought player agents (or anyone else being paid to represent a player) cannot talk to another team without the Spurs' permission.

[cjw]

Side note: Kawhi's uncle is paid by Kawhi's out-of-the-trunk agent as a marketing or PR person, right? So, if Kawhi's uncle has been talking to the Lakers (or any other team), how is it NOT tampering? I thought player agents (or anyone else being paid to represent a player) cannot talk to another team without the Spurs' permission.

Lawsuit to see the texts would be more interesting than seeing Tom Brady’s texts with the equipment manager.

Would be awesome if he forces his way to the Lakers and resigns, only to have the quad crap be degenerative and limit him PLUS have them be penalized for tampering.

And Kawhi cares about endorsements? This destroyed his image.

[spurs10]

If Leonard is traded, but not to L.A., he'd lose out on $79M to sign their in '19. He'd also have to leave, most likely, the Celtics or 76ers, both of whom are or at least would be with him, set up to contend for the foreseeable future, to join either the Clippers, who appear poised to get on the treadmill of mediocrity or the Lakers, who appear on the path to it if they don't sign James and George. And if they do, they'd have difficulty carving out a third max slot for him.

If I'm the Spurs and if it has to come to a trade, the Celtics, 76ers, etc., I'm absolutely calling his bluff on this L.A. or bust notion.

Side note: Kawhi's uncle is paid by Kawhi's out-of-the-trunk agent as a marketing or PR person, right? So, if Kawhi's uncle has been talking to the Lakers (or any other team), how is it NOT tampering? I thought player agents (or anyone else being paid to represent a player) cannot talk to another team without the Spurs' permission.

It sure looks like tampering to me! Something tells me his Uncle is going to cost him about $80 million and he isn't going to be wearing purple and gold. Not very smart.

[SpursDynasty85]

Have to question whether his toughness and ability to win will be as effective in other non super teams though.

[Marcus Bryant]

Side note: Kawhi's uncle is paid by Kawhi's out-of-the-trunk agent as a marketing or PR person, right? So, if Kawhi's uncle has been talking to the Lakers (or any other team), how is it NOT tampering? I thought player agents (or anyone else being paid to represent a player) cannot talk to another team without the Spurs' permission.

Seems clear there's communication happening. How to prove though...

Also, Kawhi's actual agent has more experience with representing NFL players, which kinda explains his holdout in all but name last season.

[Marcus Bryant]

Clearest path to resolving this cluster is to trade Leonard to an EC team this summer, without signing him to the supermax. Seems harsh, but don't badmouth the team, avoid playing, and demand a trade publicly.

[Kori Ellis]

Seems clear there's communication happening. How to prove though...

Also, Kawhi's actual agent has more experience with representing NFL players, which kinda explains his holdout in all but name last season.

True. His actual agent (Mitch Frankel?) was an odd choice for Kawhi. He's so bush league. Last I looked, the agency didn't even have a working website, and the agent was operating with just a gmail address. Not to mention Kawhi's old agent suing the agency/Frankel and all that.

[FkLA]

Side note: Kawhi's uncle is paid by Kawhi's out-of-the-trunk agent as a marketing or PR person, right? So, if Kawhi's uncle has been talking to the Lakers (or any other team), how is it NOT tampering? I thought player agents (or anyone else being paid to represent a player) cannot talk to another team without the Spurs' permission.

How is my timvp taking the news? Does it hurt?

[Kori Ellis]

How is my timvp taking the news? Does it hurt?

He's not pleased.

[travis2]

He's not pleased.

Got the china hidden? Or have you already eliminated that as an issue yourself?

[LkrFan]

For what? They'll only face him 3-4 times a year and all in the regular season .

[FkLA]

He's not pleased.

[Kori Ellis]

Got the china hidden? Or have you already eliminated that as an issue yourself?

Hi, Trav. The situation is just perplexing more than anything. Kawhi's behavior doesn't help himself...whether he wants to leave or not. So I just don't get it.

[baseline bum]

He's not pleased.

Don't let him take down timvp.com in anger if PATFO caves and sends Kawhi to LA.

[Marcus Bryant]

True. His actual agent (Mitch Frankel?) was an odd choice for Kawhi. He's so bush league. Last I looked, the agency didn't even have a working website, and the agent was operating with just a gmail address. Not to mention Kawhi's old agent suing the agency/Frankel and all that.

If in order to get a trade done the Spurs have to sign him to the supermax first they will, but the amount of bad blood created so far by his reps has endangered that. It's really strange, Leonard probably could've gotten the supermax and an early player option done already if this hadn't become so adversarial.

[baseline bum]

If in order to get a trade done the Spurs have to sign him to the supermax first they will, but the amount of bad blood created so far by his reps has endangered that. It's really strange, Leonard probably could've gotten the supermax and an early player option done already if this hadn't become so adversarial.

They can't trade him for a calendar year after signing him to a supermax deal, so that's not an option IMO.

[travis2]

Hi, Trav. The situation is just perplexing more than anything. Kawhi's behavior doesn't help himself...whether he wants to leave or not. So I just don't get it.

Yeah, I know what you mean. When asked I've just been shaking my head and saying "let's see what's here come October". I got nothing else...

[Marcus Bryant]

Re: collusion, not just the Lakers but ESPN are involved. The NBA is kinda maxing out as an entertainment option in the US. Super teams, Warriors-Cavs Finals, it's becoming stale and predictable. Trying to Make (the) Lakers Great Again isn't going to help. LeBron to the Lakers is a last gasp tbh.

[spurs10]

They can't trade him for a calendar year after signing him to a supermax deal, so that's not an option IMO.

This!

I suppose if they can't make a trade and he's here all year there might some thought of how it could help our trade situation. I have a feeling his 'crew' will find a way to screw that up. He's already out $80 million and if he gets suspended that might make it an even $100 million. Shrewd business!