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Good posts!
Last season I tried to remain objective and gave Leonard the benefit of the doubt. Everything we saw from the guy in his previous seasons showed a hard-working, superstar in the making. Although he missed time with injuries, the prevailing thought was that it killed him not to be on the court competing with his teammates. I honestly was surprised he didn't come back to play against Golden State in the WCF. His ankle injury didn't look that bad and he even shot the two free throws. That always stuck with me. He never even attempted to give it a go.
But after everything that transpired this past season: a lingering injury that kept him out of all but 9 regular season games, rumors of a meddling uncle, wanting to be in LA, not being supportive of his teammates during the playoffs, etc., I've completely changed my opinion on him. Its sad. Someone with so much talent and a bright future seems to be heading down the wrong path and doing things the wrong way. He's been unprofessional, has lacked integrity and been a horrible distraction.
At worst, he ed-over the franchise by faking the severity of an injury, created unnecessary drama with his absenteeism and attempted to orchestrate a trade that would leave the franchise in a bind. At best, he's an easily manipulated, mentally-challenged, overly-sensitive train wreck that is allowing his career and reputation to get derailed by his uncle.
In either case, he's a ing asshole. I'm not sure how you repair something like this. Other teams are salivating at a chance to add him to their rosters but they should really pump the brakes. He and his amateur representation or 'group' are as bush-league as it gets.
No wonder Pop was so pissed off and acted so uncharacteristically in front of the cameras and media. He never got so hot even when he had to deal with Dennis Rodman. I put some blame on Tony for being an ass-kisser and trying to secure another contract with his "100 times worse" comments but I think the situation was probably at its breaking point by then. In other words, TP's comments weren't the turning point. It was over by then. Even Manu seemed like he had enough with the bull . He supported Kawhi at first but something changed. He must have learned something that made him call out Leonard for not even being around and trying to be a part of the team.
I'm ok with whatever the front office does with him at this point but sending him where he wants to go would just be rewarding unacceptable behavior imo. the Lakers. If he gets traded, I hope the Spurs get an influx of talent that will compete their asses off.
Good posts!
agree, and most likely why Pop said don't bother being on the bench (if that is indeed true)
As Skip mentioned, Uncle Dennis poisoned Kawhi against the Spurs for a bigger market. If all of these were true, Kawhi will come down as the biggest asshole that played the game. To do that to the most respected organization. Pops flew to SoCal to personally knock on his door after being dodged multiple times. And he was going to discourage other teams trading other than Lakers that makes it difficult to trade him for best value? What did the Spurs do to these jackass? Ungrateful .
Agree. Multiple reports suggested that the team meeting is where they told him to just stay in NY and rehab. To the Spurs the writing was on the wall that he was planning to sit out the whole season which I'm sure infuriated Pop. I wouldn't call that meeting a "Code Red" but a chance to see if Kawhi would at least respond honestly and openly for a team he is supposed to be leading (franchise player's responsibility). Unfortunately for the Spurs and Kawhi, that is not Kawhi's mo. Both sides are to blame but I don't blame the Spurs. The Spurs have always run their organization differently and will continue to keep their culture instead of caving into superstar melodrama. Spurs and Pop had a large part in getting Kawhi the wide recognition of being at least a top 5 maybe even the BEST player in the NBA now when healthy. Spurs will be Spurs and they still have 2 years of very good LMA to work off and hopefully some young assets and cap room over the next few years to stay in punching distance.
Oh and sign Zaza in case we meet Kawhi next season
I laugh at this newfound appreciation for Zaza on Spurstalk.
Even though Kawhi turned out to be re ed with what he's pulled this year I will always despise Zaza. If you think about it he cost the Spurs a chance to win another le with his cheap shot and it will probably be a long time before the Spurs are ever in that position again.
After the inevitable trade occurs they need to file suit for a return of a portion of his salary, and then file a grievance requesting a one year suspension from the NBA.
Zaza's a goon who doesn't belong in the NBA, but he never pretended to be anything else. Kawhi chose to be a turd.
Love is worse than aldridge. Bigger baby than kl tbhI hope hope HOPE the trade rumor about Kemba Walker and Kevin Love coming here aren’t true. Love is the white Aldridge and Kemba Walker is upper mid level talent
My guess is the meeting was more about how to handle his trade rather than get him to re-sign with the Spurs.
I hate First Take and Stephen A Smith but he is very connected with LA. His words are too strong not to have strong narrative behind it. Uncle Dennis and Magic are probably super tight right now and Uncle Dennis's mind is probably made up which is why everyone including Pop wants to hear it from the goat's mouth and not his "camp". Kawhi being at home is probably a good consolation prize out of this whole mess. Hopefully the Lakers don't get Lebron and PG. I can live with just one but not all 3. That team would be too stacked.
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.
it some team will do a one year rental if we can get a good draft pick from that and a player do it.
Exactly, and if they had to trade to LA sending him to the Clippers would blow up alot of the Lakers plans. I'd trade him to the Celtics for Brown and whatever I could get.
Spurs wouldn’t be the ones calling his bluff...it’d be the team giving their assets up for Kawhi who would be calling his bluff
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.
I don't get it either. Some of the talking heads suggested that he would just wait til hes a FA and sign with LA, but like you mentioned, he loses a TON of money. Playing in LA can't be that great. So they must be convinced Pop is going to do him a solid and trade him there. Thats a lot of money to be gambling on.
Agree.
KD a leader?
More than kawhi.KD a leader?
If Spurs can convince LeBron to come, they would have room. With the assets that Kawhi’s trade can bring, who knows? I think Kawhi is replaceable with a great defender to slow down Durant, and enough firepower to trade baskets. Losing Kawhi is not the end of the world for Spurs. Again I’m convinced Kawhi is a great system player and can be replaced. He was drafted 15th and Spurs system molded him to the player he is now. Bruce Bowen was not a great 2way but he served his purpose and guarded the best perimeter offense day in and out. He even occasionally guarded Nowitzki. We don’t necessarily needed a Kawhi.
Doubt it.
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