Threads like these are why I don't come to this side of the forum very much.
The problem with the the NBA and it probably won't change is all these superstars are divas. Divas want to be in big cities, live it up, stat pad, and also want to be coddled. The Spurs are a bad fit for a lot of these guys but I think that's the case for all small market teams.
Well, I haven't been here for like ten years. The participants in this thread seem pretty well-behaved to me. What particularly don't you like about it?
The thread le for starters.
Then pretty much everything after that.
No, I'm saying Kawhi has the following:
1. Angst for the Spurs organization because of being ganked by Tony, Manu and Pop.
2. Distrust for the Spurs organization because he feels he was misdiagnosed.
3. Feels unappreciated by the Spurs organization because, even though he's been the best player since Tim Duncan, his diagnosis concerns maybe fell on deaf ears.
4. Tired of living in or around San Antonio - since he was raised in California
5. Saw an opportunity to be the face of the Lakers franchise before Lebron moved in on it. (if you're going to be the face of the franchise somewhere, you could do worse than the Lakers)
6. Knows that Pop will probably retire before his supermax contract expires
7. Thought that Tony was returning
8. Figures that Manu is probably returning as well
9. Sees the Spurs as a team that should be rebuilding with LMA as a desperation move to stave off lottery seasons
10. Figures if he's going to be on a rebuilding team, why not be on one that got over itself already (meaning they don't pretend to be contenders)
Once you get eyes for the door, it's hard to turn back. Ever work somewhere and turn in your notice? Then management tries to counter, but if you were intent on leaving you already have short-timers disease and want to be gone. Leonard wants to be gone from SA. I'd be surprised if he's traded to anyone, because I think the Spurs want him to play next season without TP and fathead so he can be more of the focus on offense and not leaned on so heavily to do everything at both ends. But depending on how talks go, the Spurs could decide to cut ties.
As mentioned before, Tony and Manu in other teams could easily have been Miller and Dragic. To Superstar players, yes it hurts them somewhat to limit their minutes. Who knows how many records Duncan could’ve broken scoring more, rebounding, blocking, playing more minutes. But then again would he have lasted 19 years? Ginobili could’ve started elsewhere and probably have been All-Star more times in other teams. Who knows? Maybe he started playing earlier instead of getting stashed in Europe. Definitely for guys like Gary Neal, JSimms, Danny Green, Red Mamba, who honed their roles and made it to NBA because of Spurs development, I’d say they’ve been pretty lucky. Kawhi?? Could’ve been just another Butler and probably not even close to Supermax money. That reminds me, you ungrateful !
Fair enough.
Yeah, something along those lines seem plausible, although tbh it doesn't all add up to me. It feels like there's something missing--maybe just human craziness, who knows. I've actually known two people who were fired, sued to get their job back, and then went back to work with the same bosses that screwed them over. One of them has been there for two years, the other one played out the string and retired there.
11. Is feeling pressure from greedy relatives to return to California
Yeah, I hear you, except I think Manu would have been a star no matter where he landed. He is a talented MOFO. But he found a home here and had a legendary career playing for championships (and is my favorite player). I also agree that Kawhi very may not have become such a good player if he landed on some random team. It is not a good feeling to act as the minor league for LA.
Peja, Petrovic, Marcilionis, Sabonis, Kukoc were very good players. Manu is a HOF. But I think he benefited with playing with Timmy and the Spurs system that allowed him to play his game in a long time. Kukoc was 3-time champion, 6th man but HOF? I love Manu and Tony and no disrespect, but undeniably Spurs system helped their careers and made them HOF.
Bottom half of the market size teams with number of rings
16 Minnesota Timberwolves - 0 (29 year drought)
17 Miami Heat - 3 (two with Lebron James, one with Shaq, both Lakers players at one point)
18 Denver Nuggets - 0 (42 year drought) (Lost ~best player to Knicks)
19 Orlando Magic - 0 (29 year drought) (Lost best player to Lakers)
20 Cleveland Cavaliers - 1 (lost best player to Lakers)
21 Sacramento Kings - 1 (68 year drought)
22 Portland Trailblazers - 1 (41 year drought)
23 Charlotte Hornets - 0 (28 year drought)
24 Indiana Pacers - 0 (42 year drought)
25 Utah Jazz - 0 (30 year drought)
26 San Antonio Spurs - 5
27 Milwaukee Bucks - 1 (haven't won a playoff series in 17 years)
28 Oklahoma City Thunder - 1 (in Seattle, 39 year drought)
29 Memphis Grizzlies - 0 (Never made the Finals)
30 New Orleans Pelicans - 0 (Never been past the 2nd round even as the Hornets)
Total rings = 13 (only two teams have more than 1 ring in their franchise histories, over half have never won a ring)
Top half of the market size teams with number of rings
1 New York Knicks - 2
2 Brookyn Nets - 2
3 Los Angeles Lakers - 16
4 Los Angeles Clippers - 0
5 Chicago Bulls - 6
6 Toronto Raptors - 0
7 Philadelphia 76ers - 3
8 Dallas Mavericks - 1
9 Washington Wizards - 1
10 Houston Rockets - 2
11 Golden State Warriors - 6
12 Atlanta Hawks - 1
13 Boston Celtics - 17
14 Phoenix Suns - (0fer 50)
15 Detroit Pistons - 3
Total rings = 60. Only 2 teams never won a championship. Only 5 teams have one fewer than 2.
So 60 vs 13
Market size matters. Even if you take out the top two hitters you have 2 teams with more rings than the highest ring count of the Spurs, who have the highest ring count of the bottom half.
In the top market you had the following:
Kareem, Wilt, Dr J, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Hakeem, Patrick Ewing, Magic, Shaq, Kobe, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Steve Nash, Dirk, Barkley, Isiah, Harden, Rodman, Pippen, KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Dominique, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol etc...
The market size mattered and continues to matter because big talent goes to big markets and talent wins in the NBA.
You misunderstand how greed works. Greedy relatives would want him to sign a supermax and not care where he wants to be.
What's missing is a statement from Kawhi. There's going to eventually be a lot of dirty laundry about the Spurs aired from former players, now that Tony has parted ways, and once Pop retires. You can bet it's not all goochie goochie up in there.
I think it's a control issue. Kawhi's camp feels Pop is too controlling. That's what made LA want to leave also. He felt he couldn't be the player he wanted to be. It's pretty simple Pop needs to give up that dictator act if he want to keep Kawhi. He no longer has TD to keep everyone in line and it's showing.
Manu has more charm under his nails than that dude will ever had. He is a media creation with under average charisma.
Last edited by Othyus Lalanne; 07-15-2018 at 09:06 AM.
for superstars and all stars yes, no doubt
for role players SA is the best place
easy solution move the spurs to austin............it will attract big name free agents & no player would ever ask to leave
That's what that first things first guy said. There's a clip of him talking like he has inside info on that being the reason Kawhi was hiding from the Spurs. I don't see an excuse from hiding from the coach like that. What LMa did seems more professional and productive for that matter.
In any case, as said before, 20 years a 50 win team and constant threat to win the le and yet no stars were lining up to pull a GSW in San Antonio. Seems like the reason it's not about basketball.
The nba is based on your first paragraph. If fans of the game were really fans of the game youd get more san antonio foundation and less carmelo anthony, jr smith, jamal crawford. Nba lacks fundamentals, talent, and you see it get worse each and every draft class.
Crazy to think San Antonio weather is so good.
The one time of year it sucks for the heat and humidity is when the guys are on beaches in Mexico or Hawaii or Bali. Travelling to Europe or Asia.
But yeah, during the season, it's undoubtedly better than most places in the League.
God, you know how to pick 'em. None of those guys would be on any roster I made, even for free. I wonder if it all started to go bad with David Stern and his deification of Michael Jordan. From then on, it seemed a steady trajectory of highlights, stat-mongering, and the appalling overpayment of inefficient chuckers. San Antonio seemed the last bastion of guys who actually tried hard and helped the team instead of only their wallets. I hope Pop can recover from this and keep the train rolling.
As much as LaMarcus was the rare prized free agent who came here and actually tries hard, unfortunately if the friction between him and Pop led the offense to center on his low-efficiency 2's, it's not ultimately a winning result (IMO).
Let's cut to the chase on this. We're talking about Kawhi Leonard and his reasons for wanting to go to LA.
No, San Antonio is not bad for players; it produces Hall of Fame'rs. KL is being represented by an amateur when it comes to endorsements. He has done everything on the court to be a max player but his leadership and personality fall short of being appealing to the masses. That's why he's not getting paid off the court. Its for that reason, and that reason alone. All that other stuff about playing in a big market is bull . If his group had just played things correct, he'd be a sueprmax player & getting endorsement $$$$.
Sorriest story in a long time.
Oh so you know exactly what they're thinking. Uh huh.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
