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Sounds like a reasonable strategy. I believe that the example set by guys like Timmy and Manu will carry over with Leonard. He's humble and he's tasted really success based on their sacrifice, so I believe it can be done.
Interesting article from Pounding the Rock. Claims the only way Kawhi gets his extension this summer is if Tim & Manu both decide to play another year after this season. Extending him this year, means no max money for free agents next summer. Seems to me, the smart thing for the Spurs to do is "convince" Manu & Tim to retire after this season and then explain to Kawhi that it's in the best interest of the team to wait until next summer to pay him, so they have enough cap room to chase a Marc Gasol or Aldridge-type player to replace Duncan to pair with Parker and him...
"Kawhi Leonard is eligible for an extension this year and the Spurs will have until the last day of October to decide what to do. Because of Leonard's play -- but also because of the way the market currently values wings with size -- Leonard is probably thinking about a max extension. After the Finals win, he seemed confident the Spurs and his agent would come to an understanding.
Yet there is no news on where the franchise stands on that. The Spurs are notoriously secretive, so that's not exactly shocking. But with Tony Parker already agreeing to an extension, it seems logical to assume Kawhi is next in line. That's why the lack of news seems less like a pregnant pause and more like the silent treatment. What's the hold up?
Read more...
http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/...inobili-retire
Sounds like a reasonable strategy. I believe that the example set by guys like Timmy and Manu will carry over with Leonard. He's humble and he's tasted really success based on their sacrifice, so I believe it can be done.
Early success.
I'm not sure the contract extension is related to Tim/Manu retirements
It sounds like they don't want to sign the extension."There are strategic reasons to do it now or don't do it now,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford told the Express-News on Friday. "There's nothing that requires it be done now."
But like Steve Kyler (Basketball Insiders) said:
A young guy, his uncertain financial future, waiting for more plays but Pop runs the offense with him as 3rd option...even if the kid isn't a ego-guy he needs show his potential if he'll test FA market.Even if Leonard gets to free agency in July, its fair more likely that the Spurs match offers than let him go, the question is do the Spurs want that in their locker room this year?
PtR
Whatever money he loses in the short term, he could gain by entering free agency earlier for his third contract, after the league's new TV deal results in a higher cap and higher contracts.I can see Leonard playing for other contender/big market-team next years.The Spurs won't lose Leonard, at least not in the short term. The rules regulating restricted free agency pretty much assure them of his services for at least two years after his rookie contract is up. But it's still curious how Leonard's contract situation mirrors his on court status and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to it
He could accept 2years/offer next summer and then a 25 years old/unrestricted free agent Leonard could sign a max contract with other team after Pop/Tim/Manu are gone. (Love's deal is the new model for promising players)
Plus, the Spurs never get FA big names and Kawhi could be one...
The run is lost before it started...the top FA aren't willing to play here.An extension guarantees the Spurs five years of Leonard but takes them out of the run for the top free agents
Last edited by wildchild; 08-16-2014 at 10:50 PM.
A guy like Marc Gasol or a Texas product like Aldridge might be willing to play here if they know they are the first post option. Playing with Parker and Leonard (and Green, to a lesser extent) makes it an attractive place to go, with Pop still coaching the team.
After paying Mills even after he got hurt, the Spurs should have Leonard's confidence. If they tell him they'll give him a five-year max next summer, he probably won't worry too much.
The only real news is that Buford pretty much confirmed that the team is still looking at next off-season as their transition year. On one hand, that probably means Tim is leaning toward hanging them up. On the other, it means the Spurs will have cap space for the first time in 12 years. We'll see what that ends up meaning for them.
Patty didn't sign a max contract, I don't think the Spurs keep their promise if Leonard gets serious injury like PG this season.
I don't know...without Leonard and Pop only coaching the team in their first year on SA, could be the worst escenario for them.
by Mark Zeigler who asked Leonard's agent Elfus about the extension but he declined comment “out of respect for the Spurs and the process.” It seems like Leonard's camp/people aren't very happy.But there’s risk in waiting, particularly with the gruesome images of Paul George’s crumpled right leg still fresh and raw.
You wait with the intention of matching an offer sheet, and maybe your budding superstar – the guy who you went 54-12 last season with him in the lineup (including 19 straight wins after he returned from a hand injury) and 8-8 without, the guy who throttled LeBron James in the finals, the guy whom coach Gregg Popovich called the future “face of the Spurs” – becomes bitter.
Maybe he doesn’t want to stay.
Last edited by wildchild; 08-17-2014 at 12:18 AM.
I'm not sure the Spurs have a realistic shot at either. Both are currently on very good playoff teams with much younger PGs, that are still improving.
The Grizzlies would be able offer him the max and still have about $ 6 million to improve around Gasol, Conley and Randolph in the 15-16 season.
Conley is only 26 and is coming off a career year averaging 17 ppg, 6 apg, & 1.5 spg.
The Blazers have a fairly young core that have a good chance to be a top four team after next season. The Clippers could lose Jordan and the Spurs could take a step back.
Lilary-24-averaged 20.7 ppg and 5.5 assist per game
Lopez-25
Batum-25
The Blazers could have about $11 million in cap (not including Robin Lopez)
I think that Paul Milsap would be a more realistic option or even Roy Hibbert (if he decides to bail on Indy)
If the Spurs make the promise, they'll keep it. The only way I could see them reneging would be if Leonard got into legal trouble.
As far as him getting butthurt and leaving, that would be fine by me. He's not a franchise player, and he shouldn't be treated like one. The Spurs can (and seem willing to) pay him significantly more than any other team in 2015. If that's not good enough for him, and can go somewhere else and be an albatross that who gets trade three times on one contract.
Leonard's not that guy, though. I'm sure if he doesn't get an extension, it will be because he and team agree to wait. The Spurs will extend him if he really wants it. But they'll expect him to take a discount in order to get it. They have all the leverage, and there's almost no upside from their end to waste it.
It's always a complex situation... I get the feeling this will be just another test of character for Kawhi... if he's to become the face of the franchise, as management would like him to, then he will have to learn to get used to a FO that makes a priority to manage the team's finances frugally. Ultimately, I think everybody knows he'll get paid, but there's obviously always some inherent risk waiting for that day.
The Spurs would obviously pitch free agents next summer with the fact that they have Parker and plan on matching any offer for Leonard. Like the article said, they can't lose him next summer (he'll be a restricted free agent, so the Spurs can match and WILL match up to the max). As previously stated, this will be the first time in a decade the Spurs have MAX money available (IF Manu and Tim retire). All the talk of "big name free agents never come here" is moot, when we haven't had max money to offer to entice them here.
I agree that both guys will probably stay, but no way Gasol looks at Memphis and thinks they have a brighter future than the Spurs do. Their roster sucks, especially for a Western team.
The Blazers' roster is also pretty weak. Their young guys (the really young ones) have to take a step or two forward in order for their bench to not be horrible again. I think Aldridge will stay since the money seems to be really important to him. But he's at the point of his career where the Blazers' youth is actually a bad thing for him. Lillard will need to become a true superstar (not just an overrated player like he is now) in order for Portland to ever be even a fringe contender.
I don't think Hibbert would be a good option at all. He's just not what the team needs, and he's not very good. Millsap would be nice if the team could also bring in another mid-level FA to play the two off the bench.
I like Milsap or Hibbert as fall back options, but I still think the Spurs go big at midnight on July 1, 2015 and offer big deals to Marc or Lamarcus. Whether they go for or not, is up to them. If they reject the Spurs, they look down the list at Milsap or Hibbert. Spurs still have to try for the big name guys that make sense for our team. There's the international flair and passing game to entice Marc Gasol to sign with us. And there's the Texas connection to entice LA. Both would play big roles on our team, post Duncan. LA would probably lead the team in scoring, and have Splitter as his Robin Lopez guy to do the dirty work. Marc would anchor the defense, and destroy teams with his passing from the high post on our team.
For the love of God wait for restricted free agency. Sorry, I love Leonard, but no other team is going to offer him anything close to a max contract when he's been the 4th option his entire career. Pop has never even run a play for him. Hes even said so.
Wait a year and see what happens. No need to be proactive and do something stupid. The Spurs aren't dumb, but I hope winning hasn't made them overconfident. They need to remember what got them there. Tim Duncan playing for 10 mil a year, Parker taking 12.5 and Manu taking 7. You give Kawhi 16 mil a year and this team is done.
Yes, he is. He's the franchise player the Spurs can get.
They aren't willing to pay tax or excess, how you think the Spurs can sign franchise players like Lebron, Durant, or that type of superstars?
Last edited by wildchild; 08-17-2014 at 01:00 AM.
I expect desperate teams like the Lakeshow to throw all the money they have at him... same for LMA and fat Gasol when the time comes...
Other unrestricted free agent big men they can pursue next summer (besides Gasol, LA, Hibbert, and Milsap):
Brook Lopez (PO: player option)
Al Jefferson (PO)
Anderson Varajao (not for the max though, I'd hope)
Tyson Chandler (might be washed up at this point)
David West (PO) (probably washed up, not worth more than MLE $$ to Spurs)
Deandre Jordan (not worth max, but someone might offer it to him)
Carlos Boozer (MLE-8 mill/yr player)
Omar Asik ($8-10mill/yr)
Samuel Dalembert (MLE-8 mill)
Agree. Also, we don't know how the new Clippers owner and their new FO will guide the franchise and how they'll manage their money but they really need a two-way player/elite SF against Durant/Westbrook.
Kevin Love?
I mean, hes lookin for someway to get here, and with max money available and I think his contract is only 1 year?
He's supposedly gonna sign an extension with Cleveland once the trade is consumated later this month. Unless he changes his mind, he's off the market next summer.
That agreement is illegal so I suppose he can change his mind when a space frees up in Spurs, and especially if Spurs beat the Cavs easily.
Don't be silly. All you people that are taking it literally that Pop has never run a play for Kawhi, that's just silly.
And how many times does this need repeating - Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons got huge contracts this off season and you think no one is going to offer Kawhi max money? The only way Kawhi will get less than the max is if he decides to take less and give the Spurs a discount. There will be other teams willing to offer him the max. He might not want to play for those teams, but I'm pretty sure someone will offer it to him.
Also, Tim Duncan an Manu got paid more when they were younger, so that's why they're taking the discounts now. They did it right by taking less money as they got older so the team could get other players around them that can help them more. Another thing would be who those players are, and if Tim/Tony/Manu think they are worth it for themselves to take the pay cut if it helps to improve the team.
This is not the Spurs decision at all, it's the players that decided to do this for the good of the team. All three of them could have told the Spurs to get stuffed and taken more money elsewhere. Don't act like the Spurs had a lot of say in the matter, they're just beneficiaries of those guys willing to do that. The opposite is someone like Kobe who still wants more money when he's older and the team can't get much depth around him because he's taking up most of the money. Most teams don't have a choice in the matter, because that player will leave and sign that contract or a similar one elsewhere. Spurs are a little lucky that those guys were willing to do that, stuff like that doesn't happen much in other places.
That's a odd statement, seeing as the Spurs have had franchise players throughout their history.
I want Kawhi to stay and the Spurs to build with him, but if he's going to act like Parsons, the team would be better off cutting their losses.
But this is moot, because Kawhi's not going to act that way.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
Exactly. It seems as though emo posters are projecting their emo-ness onto Kawhi, when in fact, he's a level headed young man. The Spurs aren't going to leave him hanging out there. I'm sure he and his agent are a part of the process and the cap discussions. I'm sure that they've explained that if he extends, there won't even be a FA like AK47 or Gasol. If he hangs out and waits for the Spurs to make their moves, they could add another really good player to the mix, and Kawhi gets his same money. The Spurs take care of their own.
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