Kawhi Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto, league source tells ESPN.
Sounds like that pesky old leg will be acting up again.
Kawhi Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto, league source tells ESPN.
Ha, that was my thought as well. It's not like he can even blame the Raptors medical staff like he's doing with San Antonio. I wonder what happens if he medically sits out again without team or league doctors signing off on it.
Sounds like that pesky old leg will be acting up again.
I'm starting to wonder if Kawhi is worth the trouble. It would be one thing if Sacramento screwed it up, but San Antonio selling him for 60 cents on the dollar makes me wonder.Ha, that was my thought as well. It's not like he can even blame the Raptors medical staff like he's doing with San Antonio. I wonder what happens if he medically sits out again without team or league doctors signing off on it.
I don't think it matters if KL even plays for them if they want to do more than win 55 games a year. They aren't doing much with their current roster construction.If he's near 100% its a very good deal for Toronto
Why wouldn’t you just trade DeRozan for rebuilding assets if that were the case?Isn’t Toronto just going to trade him now or at the deadline? They did this to start a rebuild. Derozen signed for three years. They were not going to win east with him and Lowry. Get kawhi and trade to lakers or philly for young players. Then see if there is a market for Lowry.
I’d be shocked if kawhi starts season w Toronto.
Lakers and Philly want Kawhi, not DeRozan is my guess.Why wouldn’t you just trade DeRozan for rebuilding assets if that were the case?
I read this as Toronto going all in for this year with the understanding that they’ll be kicking off a rebuild in 2019-20. Will be interested to see the other assets going to SA.Why wouldn’t you just trade DeRozan for rebuilding assets if that were the case?
Perhaps. Would be risky to assume that they would change their low offers now though.Lakers and Philly want Kawhi, not DeRozan is my guess.
DeRozen and his contract doesn't have much value to other teams in the league. This way TOR can get a tradable asset, even if KL doesn't play for them.Why wouldn’t you just trade DeRozan for rebuilding assets if that were the case?
Yep. On the other hand, that pick isn't all that valuable.Whoa, Poetl? That’s a nice get for the Spurs.
My sheer speculation is that there is a greater than 0% chance that KL ends up on PHI, BOS, or LAL before the season starts.I guess. I mean, he's not staying so you are going all in this year with a roster that still, IMO, isnt better than what a healthy Boston is rolling out.
That said, better than PHI for Boston. Leonard on that roster makes them a real problem and increases chance he stays. Now, i think LAL is a done deal in a year
Would think that Poetl would be third on SAS's list behind Anunoby and Siakam but TOR does have some nice young pieces.Whoa, Poetl? That’s a nice get for the Spurs.
Edit: and probably a good move by Ujiri to keep Anunoby and Siakam out of it.
Assuming (a) Kawhi is healthy and (b) the two petulant stars stop pouting like children, both teams just improved a ton relative to last season. Total win-win, but for the (reported) whining by Kawhi and Demar.
I don’t know in what world he is better than Lebron but it isn’t this one.So ... since 26 year-old Kawhi (if healthy) is a better player than 34 y.o. LeBron, and the Raptors are 20 times better than the Lakers, can I expect ESPN and the talking heads to spend the next two weeks hyping this trade 24-7??
I’m a confirmed LeBron Hater but I don’t think your opening assumption is accurate. I expect that will be true in a few years but the last we saw, James carried a challenged team to the Finals. Like Brady, we haven’t seen age take much, if any, toll on him, and I don’t think Kawhi has ever been actually better than LeBron.So ... since 26 year-old Kawhi (if healthy) is a better player than 34 y.o. LeBron, and the Raptors are 20 times better than the Lakers, can I expect ESPN and the talking heads to spend the next two weeks hyping this trade 24-7??
My sheer speculation is that there is a greater than 0% chance that KL ends up on PHI, BOS, or LAL before the season starts.
My point was even though having him in the east poses a risk I think it is better for us than had he ended up with philly.that quickly went from All-Star player, young players, and multiple picks to All-Star Player, young player, and one pick. But DeRozen does upgrade SAS somewhat.
My sheer speculation is that there is a greater than 0% chance that KL ends up on PHI, BOS, or LAL before the season starts.
Understood. My point is that he could still end up in PHI, particularly (as mentioned above) if KL threatens not to report to TOR or otherwise indicates he's not playing for them. TOR is more or less in a no-lose situation here.My point was even though having him in the east poses a risk I think it is better for us than had he ended up with philly.
Everyone said the same thing about Paul George, fwiw.So he heads to LAL in 12 months. He’s going somewhere he clearly won’t resign, so this takes a lot of the mystery out of it.
If Toronto's goal is to accelerate a rebuild rather than a GFIN season with Kawhi, it makes some sense. DeRozan wasn't going to help much in that department. We'll find out soon what Toronto's plan is. I think it's possible they flip him to LA for Ingram/filler/pick(s).I don't understand people speculating Kawhi will move again before season starts. Based on what?? Kawhi needs to play this year to get paid next off-season.
Why not just do a three way deal if that’s the case?If Toronto's goal is to accelerate a rebuild rather than a GFIN season with Kawhi, it makes some sense. DeRozan wasn't going to help much in that department. We'll find out soon what Toronto's plan is. I think it's possible they flip him to LA for Ingram/filler/pick(s).
Eh, I think you’re probably underestimating how elite Kawhi was when healthy, how much of the game is defense (half), and how much better it is for an NBA player to be 27 than 34.I don’t know in what world he is better than Lebron but it isn’t this one.
I don't think the Lakers have any interest in trading assets for this guy. At least that's my impression. Hold on to the young guys and just sign a big FA next year since there's a lot of them out there.Could SAS condition the trade on KL not getting flipped to Lakers, at least until deadline? That’s modus operendi in FIFA, though I don’t recall it in NBA.
Yea, a Lowry, Green, Kawhi, Anunoby, Ibaka lineup is pretty slickReplacing Derozan's minutes with Kawhi and Danny Green while getting sophomore growth from Anunoby could make an already good defense really, really tough.
You feel Toronto will win more than 59 games with Kawhi replacing DeRozan?Whoa, Poetl? That’s a nice get for the Spurs.
Edit: and probably a good move by Ujiri to keep Anunoby and Siakam out of it.
Assuming (a) Kawhi is healthy and (b) the two petulant stars stop pouting like children, both teams just improved a ton relative to last season. Total win-win, but for the (reported) whining by Kawhi and DeMar.
I think it would be pretty silly to let Brandon Ingram get in the way of an additional year of a LeBron/Kawhi pairing, especially since he plays their position. LeBron isn't going to be Superman forever. I would be doing all I could to maximize his window.I don't think the Lakers have any interest in trading assets for this guy. At least that's my impression. Hold on to the young guys and just sign a big FA next year since there's a lot of them out there.
Well, a healthy Kawhi is a better scorer, 3 point shooter, 2 point shooter, FT shooter, rebounder, and defender. There is some age related decline concern for Lowry and Ibaka, but that might be offset by the young guys growth.You feel Toronto will win more than 59 games with Kawhi replacing DeRozan?
It's speculation so it's based on nothing other than the fact that KL has said he's not interested in playing in TOR. Will TOR let him sit all year? I don't see that happening either.I don't understand people speculating Kawhi will move again before season starts. Based on what?? Kawhi needs to play this year to get paid next off-season.
I mean, when you're a 59-win #1 seed, there's a diminishing returns effect in terms of your regular season win total — between injuries, rest, B2Bs, lack of focus, etc., you're going to drop a bunch of regular season games no matter how talented you are. I think where we'll really see the difference between an elite player like Kawhi and a lower tier guy like DeRozan is in the playoffs (e.g. 2016 Warriors with Harrison Barnes vs. 2017 Warriors with Durant).You feel Toronto will win more than 59 games with Kawhi replacing DeRozan?
He's not going to sit. Period. He needs to play to get paid.It's speculation so it's based on nothing other than the fact that KL has said he's not interested in playing in TOR. Will TOR let him sit all year? I don't see that happening either.
It's just a weird situation all around.
It is? The Celtics win 4/5 matchups without question.Yea, a Lowry, Green, Kawhi, Anunoby, Ibaka lineup is pretty slick
The elimination of LeBron already made hem a much better playoff team. I just don't understand how they can "improve a ton" while using the disclaimer that they may (likely imo) win fewer games.Well, a healthy Kawhi is a better scorer, 3 point shooter, 2 point shooter, FT shooter, rebounder, and defender. There is some age related decline concern for Lowry and Ibaka, but that might be offset by the young guys growth.
So they might not win more than 59 games, but come playoff time, I would expect their team to be much better than last years version
Indeed. If Leonard actually plays for them and is healthy, this is a massive upgrade for Toronto. The defense and three point shooting improvement alone is huge and addresses some of the Raptors biggest issues overall.Well, a healthy Kawhi is a better scorer, 3 point shooter, 2 point shooter, FT shooter, rebounder, and defender. There is some age related decline concern for Lowry and Ibaka, but that might be offset by the young guys growth.
So they might not win more than 59 games, but come playoff time, I would expect their team to be much better than last years version