What if Kawhi fails his physical?

[superbigtime]

I think Toronto is something like top 4 or 5 market for the entire NBA. But I don't think his shoe deal has anything to do with his market size. Westbrook has done amazing in a small market. Westbrook has personality though. Kawhi doesn't.

Sooner or later they'll have to figure out that its not about anything else other than Kawhi's lack of personality as to why he isn't a bigger star. Or maybe they don't. Uncle and Company seem pretty ing stupid so maybe they'll never figure it out.

Add his sister to the list.

[ceperez]

Exactly, which is why the idea that Leonard HAS to be hurt beyond repair for him to fail it was unfounded. Maybe this thread was about Kawhi's knee being ruined and SA being forced to take whatever discounted price was necessary to get him. Maybe MannyisGod had a point there. But I don't think that's reasonable to speculate about. If PATFO didn't know Kawhi was injured enough to warrant him failing a physical almost a full year after they diagnosed him as essentially fine, then that's a huge black mark on the organization. As I said, the implications of that would be franchise-destroying and not really worth ignoring for a discussion of a first-round pick.

Rather, this premise seemed to be about the Raptors finding something relatively minor and decided the fail the physical because of it. As I said, this is a tactic teams use from time to time to control transactions. Because then, the Raptors can try to hold PATFO hostage and threaten to back away from the trade if they don't get a better deal. In that case, you tell them to off. Even if they find what I suspect to be the truth (that Leonard's knee will be an issue for the rest of his career), you don't discount on what's already a one-percent package, because Leonard's value already reflected the assumption that he IS injured. Kawhi already had more value to SA than the package they got back. Making that difference greater isn't really an option for me at this point.

SA had leverage over Toronto as soon as the trade was leaked. The Raptors have already irreparably damaged their relationship with DeRozan. The Spurs on the other hand likely improved their relationship with Leonard. If this trade were to fall apart, both Kawhi and PATFO could decide it's best for him to come into camp and show he's healthy. That would kill the trade rumors and let the sides have a chance to heal. Then they could hold onto Leonard until 12/15 and try everything again, if a trade were even necessary. Of course, both sides could and probably do have too much bad blood between them to ever really make up. But it would be nothing compared to the mess Ujuri would have on his hands after lying to DeRozan AND still have to hold onto him. They'd probably have to Odom him to another team anyway for a much worse player and from an even weaker position. Would absolutely sink that franchise.

Spurs paid an additional $5m to have this trade done. Ujuri had a choice to dump either Lowry or Ibaka's contracts, but he chose the youngest player in DeRozan. They fully know there gamble and Ujuri is saavy enough to out talk Uncle Dennis. Toronto is going to have a very good defensive team next season and is likely going to play in the NBA finals. Just to make the finals is worth the gamble from Toronto's perspective.

[Marcus Bryant]

Hmmm. I think Leonard has a good, not great, rest of his career. With the right coach and system that emphasizes defense he will be able to restore his 'best 2 way player' rep. The problem is, that rep has led to great player expectations and he just doesn't have the personality and desire to deal with what comes with that, no matter what his camp wants in terms of endorsements. Likely he ends up with teams without the defensive focus there was in SA and then it'll be his offensive production that matters.

[objective]

Maybe DeRozan is too depressed to report for his physical on the Spurs end

[therealtruth]

Spurs paid an additional $5m to have this trade done. Ujuri had a choice to dump either Lowry or Ibaka's contracts, but he chose the youngest player in DeRozan. They fully know there gamble and Ujuri is saavy enough to out talk Uncle Dennis. Toronto is going to have a very good defensive team next season and is likely going to play in the NBA finals. Just to make the finals is worth the gamble from Toronto's perspective.

I agree they should be able to play suffocating defense and have a really good chance to make the Finals. That's what made Boston really good was their young talent that could play well defensively. They will be in the same group but with more experience. I think after the Raptors flamed out Ujiri was planning to move both Casey and Derozan. Casey benched Derozan during one of their crucial stretches of the playoffs. I don't think Ujiri feels Derozan is mentally tough enough to be a champion and now he has two players with championship experience.