Young: sources tell @ExpressNews that Kawhi Leonard wants to be traded from Spurs

[gospursgojas]

I hate to say it but it’s painfully obvious now.......

Kawhi is a slow adult

It's ok to say he's re ed or I guess you can say in PC terms he's mentally challenged.

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adult_Protection/

Tbh

[spurs10]

If any of this is true, ing WOW--he was cashing checks and they were pulling this kind of ??

Yeah if true there needs to be a lawsuit to return that money because it's fraud. Sounds like bull .

[Spurs9]

Kemba still looking to be moved?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y6ufjg8l

Add in some 1st rounders.

[TekXX]

Someone photoshop Kawhi's face and Spurs staffers to this gif please

You sure that's not Kawhi?

[rasuo214]

Former competent agent negotiates max extension, good relationship with team.

Uncle convinces Leonard to fire him, now relationship destroyed and Leonard could lose out on up to almost $100 mil.

His former agent had issues with the Spurs not offering Kawhi the max right away (opting to wait a year so they could sign LMA).

[SAGirl]

Well it's obvious Pop doesn't want to trade him.

Despite every media reporter affirming they would be surprised to see him in training camp, I wouldn't. It doesn't seem like the Spurs yet know which way this is going to go but their intention is to keep him.

[loveforthegame]

Thanks for the recaps.

Am I reading this right? The Spurs still have no report on Kawhi’s rehab? They’ve let this slide almost a year without asking the league to step in? Or whatever proper channels they need to go through to get a report on their own employee?

[tholdren]

Well it's obvious Pop doesn't want to trade him.

Despite every media reporter affirming they would be surprised to see him in training camp, I wouldn't. It doesn't seem like the Spurs yet know which way this is going to go but their intention is to keep him.

No

[Payote75]

This whole situation is one contradiction after another such a sorted story. Quite frankly I'm going to side with the orginization they have been one of the classiest model impressive orginizations in all of professional sports there personnel is sprinkled all over the league and so many of these teams play or try to emulate everything about this orginization. All they have accomplished as a small market team one would think they were a big market they have held there own over the years with the likes of the fakers have outshined the sixers, Bulls, Knicks, etc. not to mention they know how to and have extended many careers but now all the sudden that is gone because of one player???? Let's not let our love for our superstar blind us and turn on everything this club has done for the league, the players, and most importantly us the fans.
i would gladly take Irving and chance it he is former Texas player I believe (if I'm wrong someone correct me please). He and Aldridge make us relevant still and I believe damn good actually not to mention I would rather spend our efforts wooing him to stay and putting our efforts into that in the hopes of him staying which he very well could since he we were on that list and he could lure butler or other FA. What I find so ironic is if they (his group) want this dude out so bad why do they keep ruining his trade value? Changing his preferred teams? And lowering his value. It almost seems like they trying for the opposite scenario of a trade they sabotaging his value making it difficult for the Spurs to trade him basically backing them into a corner to offer that supermax. I'm not sure what to think anymore I just want this over.

[ceperez]

Full podcast notes:

— Spurs wanted sit-down early on to air everything out but were afraid to approach Kawhi’s team because they didn’t want to be perceived as trying to rush him back

— Mike Wright tells the late all-star game story and pins it right on Uncle Dennis. Said traffic was so bad they walked from the hotel to the arena.

— Kawhi’s group feels Spurs are too controlling, but Wright and hosts point out that Uncle Dennis has no frame of reference to compare to. Mike Wright concurs with a statement that Uncle Dennis is “clueless”

— Host says this is a lesson in everything not to do in handling a young superstar

— Host asks if this is, at its core, about lack of trust over the misdiagnosis. Mentions Kawhi also sought a 2nd opinion on his wrist injury in 2014 so this may be a long standing issue between player and team. Mike Wright thinks that’s the essence of it, but the major component is Uncle Dennis fanning the flames. Spurs admit they may have ed up injury diagnosis, but they can’t be sure because they lost control of rehab on Aug 8th. Wright mentions the rumor that Kawhi shopped around for doctors

— Spurs reps were in New York during rehab but had no say or input on rehab at that point

— It’s fair to question what’s going on from Kawhi’s side both from a management perspective and a medical perspective. Spurs were in the dark medically all year.

— There was a point last year when Spurs flew to New York but as soon as they walked in the building, Kawhi’s team “sequestered” him so the Spurs couldn’t see him. Wright said he shouldn’t tell that story but he thinks Kawhi is gone so it doesn’t matter

— What was impetus for Spurs handing over rehab in August? Kawhi felt the rehab exercises were hurting him worse. He went and got multiple opinions, then Spurs handed over rehab

— Spurs could not get a hold of Kawhi when he visited China. Spurs wanted to send team security, but everything changed for them when they couldn’t reach him in China

— Wright says Spurs gave Kawhi an inch by giving up control of rehab, and Kawhi took a mile. Host says of course every team would want to control their franchise player’s rehab. That’s not controlling to want to do that. Wright thinks Spurs were too accommodating in giving up rehab and Kawhi took advantage of them.

— The Spurs still don’t know what they want to do with him. Don’t know if they’ll keep him or when they’ll trade him

— Seems obvious that a path to reconciliation is the Supermax. But is there a guarantee Kawhi and Uncle Dennis won’t pull this again 3 months later? “It’s a band-aid on a gunshot wound.” Wright says too risky to offer a supermax now.

— Co-host says Kawhi’s people really screwed this up. Contrasts him to Lebron in saying that Lebron is not a fool, but Kawhi is being a fool and being played. Ultimately it’s on Kawhi because he has the power to change it

— Wright says the Spurs are going to do what’s best for them regardless. It’s not about what Kawhi wants for them anymore.

— Wright says the Ingram/Kuzma/Hart/Picks package was accurate but he heard Spurs asked for 4 picks and not 2 picks and 2 pick swaps

— Wright said Spurs just want Kawhi alone in a room and can’t get it. Everything is going through Dennis and Spurs aren’t sure what really comes from Kawhi and what’s just Dennis

— All agree it’s just a bad idea to mix family and business

— Host asks if Kawhi is staying off the court because he’s worried teams will be scared off that his level of play has dropped or he’s still injured? Wright said it’s gone off the rails and no one knows. He thinks Kawhi should keep the Uncle on the payroll but just not be represented by him.

— Wright doesn’t think anything gets done anytime soon because the Spurs don’t want to trade him. Both sides in a bad spot

— How much did Pop’s comments contribute to Kawhi’s unhappiness? (Host mistakenly thinks Pop made the “100 times worse” comment). Wright says comments were not meant to be critical of Kawhi. Tony’s ultimate message was “be positive.” Wright was standing there and knew it was going to get exaggerated. Kawhi’s taking offense to that and using that as a reason to want a trade is just an excuse

— Wright says he talked to a high ranking Spurs official 2 days ago and that person did not know the context of the “100 times worse” comment. He knew the quote but had never watched the interview in its entirety for context

— Might be tough to sell vets on Kawhi returning because Kawhi and his team kept giving false dates as to when he’d return. It would be this game, then that game, then that game. Moving target. That’s what led to Ginobili comments. After series with GSW previous year, vets thought the team could be compe ive for a ring and Kawhi said “ it.” Then Kawhi shows up for picture day, leaves before shootaround, and they basically don’t see him again

— Wright knew it was over when Kawhi requested trade. Before that, team thought they could fix it. Wright wonders if Pop would have been able to focus more on repairing the relationship had he not been dealing with aftermath of wife’s death.

— All Kawhi had to say from the beginning is “I don’t want to play in San Antonio.” Instead it’s a littany of excuses for why he wants out. Spurs went out of their way to protect him. How many media markets can your star player go 2 months without making a comment? Once Spurs couldn’t protect him anymore he started looking bad. Wright doesn’t see a reconciliation

— Co-host suggests team promises to trade Kawhi, but explains to him that he has to restore his value by playing. They’ll update him on trade talks every week. Wright says they may not be able to even get to that conversation. He says all the reports about Uncle Dennis are not exaggerations. He can’t even tell most of the stories of the various wild an unorthodox things Uncle Dennis has requested

— Wright says Kawhi wants the Clippers, but he thinks a dark horse team will wind up with him. Clippers are a mismatch as a trade partner. Wright wants him to go to LA though and experience that media so he knows how good he had it in San Antonio. Skipping interviews is not an option in LA. 10x more reporters focused on him, and wait until “Lonzo’s Daddy” says something about him. Will he think the team betrayed him when they don’t protect him from the media like the Spurs did?

Just insane! Unheard of!! There's no way Kawhi can play in L.A.. You can't have Lebron, Lavar and Uncle Dennis all in the same room. Just totally insane!

[Payote75]

Btw why not a trade that looks like this Irving pick and sign and trade smart (seems like they aren't keeping him and he is unhappy) for kiwi and gasol or mills if they want either of the two.

opinions???

[ducks]

I want Leonard for max with his former agent with team option in year 4

[cd021]

Didn't Kyrie list Spurs as a destination when he wanted trade from Cavs? He could potentially lure a Texan in Jimmy Butler to SA ala LMA, just a pipedream tho.

That was a year ago, probably with the idea of playing with Kawhi and under Pop, that's irrelevant now considering that he would be moved for Kawhi and he has already been linked to the Knicks. Ainge is reportedly worried about re-signing him, PATFO would be in the same spot but with a worse player. If Kyrie were to leave, all the Spurs would have to show is a pick, and for all we know its a bad pick-like -27th or 28th next year.

Hayward, Kings Picks, Memphis pick, is probably the asking price from PATFO-at least, if Boston is adamant on not including Tatum and Brown.

[Payote75]

I want Leonard for max with his former agent with team option in year 4

In a perfect world I would want him signed to but let's be honest Spurs are built on heart and kiwi seems to have lost his how do you take him back after this three ring circus??? It's like a bad breakup/divorce after cheating.

[Marcus Bryant]

https://nbpa.com/becoming-an-agent/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6q...zR08ydDJV/view

[Vic Petro]

Thanks for the recaps.

Am I reading this right? The Spurs still have no report on Kawhi’s rehab? They’ve let this slide almost a year without asking the league to step in? Or whatever proper channels they need to go through to get a report on their own employee?

There is actually some ambiguity here. Wright said multiple times that the Spurs lost control of rehab in August and were generally in the dark throughout the season. But later, he made the same suggestion Woj made in his podcast, about the Sixers likely having the best info because it’s their team doctor who oversaw the rehab. Thankfully though this time the host brought up HIPAA violations and conflicts of interest there. Wright kind of laughed that off and intimated the Sixers have the info, and said something like “besides the Spurs and Sixers, everyone else is in the dark” which suggests the Spurs are at least somewhat in the know.

[Payote75]

That was a year ago, probably with the idea of playing with Kawhi and under Pop, that's irrelevant now considering that he would be moved for Kawhi and he has already been linked to the Knicks. Ainge is reportedly worried about re-signing him, PATFO would be in the same spot but with a worse player. If Kyrie were to leave, all the Spurs would have to show is a pick, and for all we know its a bad pick-like -27th or 28th next year.

Hayward, Kings Picks, Memphis pick, is probably the asking price from PATFO-at least, if Boston is adamant on not including Tatum and Brown.

I hear ya and typically I would agree but I'd take my chances and he would be playing with Aldridge and still have pop and could lure his buddy butler. And what about the Celtics adding smart to the trade in a sign and trade and us adding gasol or mills. I would do that Spurs efforts would be all good intention a fresh start not this cancerous situation that is so toxic.

[MannyIsGod]

If true, Ainge is a savage for trying to dump kyrie just a year after he traded for him, but the not surprising. It'd easily be the right move.


Wonder which pick was offered though.

Did you miss what Ainge did to IT? This is nothing compared to that.

[loveforthegame]

There is actually some ambiguity here. Wright said multiple times that the Spurs lost control of rehab in August and were generally in the dark throughout the season. But later, he made the same suggestion Woj made in his podcast, about the Sixers likely having the best info because it’s their team doctor who oversaw the rehab. Thankfully though this time the host brought up HIPAA violations and conflicts of interest there. Wright kind of laughed that off and intimated the Sixers have the info, and said something like “besides the Spurs and Sixers, everyone else is in the dark” which suggests the Spurs are at least somewhat in the know.

Thank you for further explanation. I appreciate it.

[Payote75]

Kawhi Leonard not that into Clippers

Adrian Wojnarowski: “I’ve been told that one of the reasons [Kawhi Leonard] looks at going to the Clippers – is a little less motivated [to go to the Clippers] is because initially, the idea of Los Angeles was fine to him – he preferred the Lakers but was all right with the Clippers – but now that LeBron James is there, the idea of going head-to-head with LeBron – to have Kawhi with the Clippers and LeBron with the Lakers, and to maybe feel dwarfed by that – I’m told that’s become far less appealing for him.”
19 hours ago – via The Vertical

Top Rumors, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs

This rumor is part of a storyline: 10 more rumors
this is what I mean lakers yes then no doesn't want to play with bron .....clippers yes now no cause he doesn't want to be dwarfed by bron......so if he doesn't want lakes or clippers how does he want to go back home???? It's like it's all being done to screw with his value in a trade so Spurs keep hi and offer supermax.....and if not then he gets to leave his choice.....but this is nuts!!'n

[daslicer]

Kawhi Leonard not that into Clippers

Adrian Wojnarowski: “I’ve been told that one of the reasons [Kawhi Leonard] looks at going to the Clippers – is a little less motivated [to go to the Clippers] is because initially, the idea of Los Angeles was fine to him – he preferred the Lakers but was all right with the Clippers – but now that LeBron James is there, the idea of going head-to-head with LeBron – to have Kawhi with the Clippers and LeBron with the Lakers, and to maybe feel dwarfed by that – I’m told that’s become far less appealing for him.”
19 hours ago – via The Vertical

Top Rumors, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs

This rumor is part of a storyline: 10 more rumors
this is what I mean lakers yes then no doesn't want to play with bron .....clippers yes now no cause he doesn't want to be dwarfed by bron......so if he doesn't want lakes or clippers how does he want to go back home???? It's like it's all being done to screw with his value in a trade so Spurs keep hi and offer supermax.....and if not then he gets to leave his choice.....but this is nuts!!'n

Him and his group are having a meltdown. Originally it was LA or bust but now in both scenarios they are conflicted. With the Lakers the conflict is that Kawhi won't get to be the man and would have to play in Lebron's shadows. With the Clippers it is that Kawhi would not have a good supporting cast that would allow him to compete for a le. Clearly him and his group are a re ed bunch.

[cjw]

His former agent had issues with the Spurs not offering Kawhi the max right away (opting to wait a year so they could sign LMA).

So basically what the Warriors have been doing to build a dominant roster...

Right thing to do by the team but the agent was actually right to be angry. But Spurs did hold up their end of the bargain and also gave that fifth year as a P.O.

[Marcus Bryant]

If you're the Spurs do you make a $221MM commitment to a player who apparently held out on you last season, has demanded a trade, threatened to hold out next season, and apparently cannot have a direct conversation with you?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs should not trade Kawhi.

I think all Pop and RC want is alone time with Kawhi (cue George Michael's "Careless Whisper")

The problem is that Kawhi's moronic uncle is there all the time. However once the season starts you'd think it would be much easier to get in a room with Pop and RC since he's uncle can't be on the court or at all the practices.

If there is even a 1% chance the relationship can be fixed is to keep him on the team and see where it goes. I know people worry about the locker room dynamics but the team isn't doing jack with this roster anyway. Spurs don't have much to lose and maybe once Kawhi gets playing again he'll start to change his mind.

If not, trade him by the deadline, but right now there isn't any package worth pursuing for Kawhi.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

If you're the Spurs do you make a $221MM commitment to a player who apparently held out on you last season, has demanded a trade, threatened to hold out next season, and apparently cannot have a direct conversation with you?

A lot would obviously need to change, Kawhi's behavior has been unacceptable. Both sides would need to make some compromises moving forward. If Pop and RC seem to be fine when they are just dealing with Kawhi on his own according to Michael C Wright then maybe something can be salvaged.

But I think the Spurs need Kawhi FAR MORE than Kawhi needs the Spurs. Franchise players don't grow on trees.