Is Leonard a Max Player

Originally Posted by Seventyniner

Agreed about the 5-year designation. This is precisely the type of situation it was meant for.

25% of the cap is hefty, though. That will likely be $16-17M by then. If the contract starts at $16.5M, that's $94.875M over 5 years with max raises.

Edit: even starting at $15M that's $86.25M total for 5 years

I was guessing around 13M per year before the playoffs started, but he's really improved his bargaining position.

I think 5/70 is the absolute minimum that he'll get if they can agree this summer. Wall got 5/80 and George got 5/90.

Pay the guy whatever he wants as long as we can retain every other free agent (yes even Bonner)

Actually, if Leonard really thinks that he's going to blossom into a superstar, he'd be better off taking 4 years so that his 3rd contract would start a year sooner. That's when the big bucks start rolling in.

5/54

no wait it'll probably have to be 5/66 at min maybe some player options last two years to be team friendly and reasonable security for KL

60-70/5yrs is what he will command I'd think, and we'll pay it happily. IMHO he is a young Scottie Pippen, a super-elite second guy who does everything on the court but probably shouldn't be relied on as the offensive focal point.

As for the OP's post, what a load of bull . WTF do you know about what's in Kawhi's head? He's shown nothing but commitment to the team and humility, so STFU.

Josh Howard was also once a hardworking role player. So he came to mind when thinking of Leonard.

By the time his current deal is up, yes he will be. I hope we are able to keep him.

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Josh Howard was also once a hardworking role player. So he came to mind when thinking of Leonard.

Yep. They seem like totally similar guys.

Originally Posted by CitizenDwayne

Yep. They seem like totally similar guys.

Josh Howard 2006=Kawhi Leonard 2014. But we know what happened to Josh Howard. He loved weed more than basketball.

Basically every team in the league would throw max money at him(if they could), and if it comes down to it, Spurs would and shoult too.

But maybe you can work something out, that gives him less now, but takes care of him for the next 12 years as a Spur.

I think his ego getting inflated is a good thing. This isn't the kind of player who is going to win FMVP and expect to be treated like LeBron James, even if he can guard him straight up. He plays in San Antonio. The Spurs don't let your ego sound off. It should give him a lot more confidence after Pop took the leash off and he flourished. He has a lot of potential to be a much better player than he is today, and today he is a Finals MVP. That's insane. You definitely keep building around this guy.

I don't know, he hasn't proven he can operate as a first option yet. Spurs might lock him up for cheaper before they try to find out if he can carry an offense next season.

Leonard deserves the George extension. But he will also be given advice by the Spurs to take a small pay cut. It will be his prerogative to take it or not. I suspect he will.

ANd by the way Josh Howard was nowhere close to the defender Kawhi has been in his first three seasons.

Originally Posted by Spursfanfromafar

Leonard deserves the George extension. But he will also be given advice by the Spurs to take a small pay cut. It will be his prerogative to take it or not. I suspect he will.

Thank goodness for the Spurs Kawhi isn't eligible for the George extension.

I don't see why the Spurs should extend him at all. There's no financial upside to doing so. I think they will do so now, however.

Parker got a 4yr/50 mil extension after winning a finals MVP. Perspective! I expect Leonard's agent to ask for Paul George money, expect the Spurs to offer him something like 5yrs/60-70 mil now or let him explore the market next summer and eventually match whatever offer he gets. They'll probably settle somewhere in the middle this summer, but the most beneficial for the Spurs would be if they hold on until next summer.

If he seeks an extensions now (early) the Front Office may use the leverage available. "Ok we give the security you seeking (but it comes at a discount for us for being willing to give it to you right now) here's 40/4 or 60/5" etc.

he'll be a max player in 3/4 year when tp manu and tim will be retired until then pay him manu/tp kind of money

I'm pretty sure the Spurs aren't going to offer him max money the first time around. I'd be surprised if they offer him more than $14m/year (that would be 4/56 or 5/70), and I find it more likely that he will sign for the usual Spurs salary around $12.5m, which means 4/50 or 5/62. Then if in his prime he is really a franchise player like Tim Duncan, he will get the $20m/year type of contract to start the second half of his career.

Kawhi having an ego.

Regardless, he's worth the max for this team tbh. Maybe not for other teams, but he's an athletic, unique player with a high ceiling along with a great at ude.

Maybe he'll be worth a max contract by the time his current contract is over. Why worry about it until then?

Originally Posted by ManuTastic

Maybe he'll be worth a max contract by the time his current contract is over. Why worry about it until then?

Because the Spurs have to sign him to an extension this summer?

Originally Posted by Chinook

Thank goodness for the Spurs Kawhi isn't eligible for the George extension.

I don't see why the Spurs should extend him at all. There's no financial upside to doing so. I think they will do so now, however.

yes. Funny, this is the opposite version of cliff jumping. Guess how much KL final MVP and SPurs le means now... 0

everyone is equal. I say let him prove it again this year then lock him up.

Not right now no.

He seems to be a 10-12 million dollar guy.
I mean, other than his defense his finals MVP is very similar to the Parker´s Finals MVP. More a matter of situations where the team takes advantage and he finishes.
Clearly the Heat made a commitment to stop Parker and Ginobili on the pick n roll (Still both of them averaged more than 15 pts and 4.5 assists). Leaving an incredible amount of open shots for players to take advantage. Leonard played the most minutes with either Tony or Manu, hence, he took the most advantage of all the non-big-3 players.
I think the key here is: Had the Heat commit to Leonard not being to score, would he be able to create game for others the way max players (and near max players) can?
Duncan could, Tony and Manu could. LeBron can do it. Max players should do it, and considering Tim was a max player only once in his career, Manu was a max player only once in his career, and Tony was never a max player. You have to be very good to get a max contract in SA. And i don´t think Leonard will be at that level soon.
As said before, i would offer now what was first offered to Ginobili after his rookie contract. 6 years at 52 millions (For other reference TP biggest contract was 6 years at 66 millions while Manu´s -max deal NBA allowed- was 3 years at 39 millions)