Kawhi Leonard Discussion: “I’m A Snake Clipper Guy.”

we weren't tanking when they initially signed Mozgov n Deng

 

Your guess is as good as mine on LeBron's prime, but after watching him and other players at similar ages that's what I think. I also think with Leonard (sans Ingram, Kuzma) AND intelligent coaching, we can beat Golden State this year, but not as currently constructed. I also don't think there's an FA in the 2019 class other than Leonard that could propel us to contender status.

But again, agree to disagree. I can see the merit in the perspective to keep the young kids, but I've expressed repeatedly why I don't share the same viewpoint. This is the last I'm going to say on the subject. I feel like the same arguments are getting repeated over and over. Let's see how next season goes. I hope we do well.

 

We REALLY have to get the notion out of our minds that Kawhi is the only player that would put us over the top here. We miss out on Kawhi, so what. There will be plenty of other star players salivating at the opportunity to play with Lebron and the Lakers.

Maginka did us a solid and kept ALL of our worthy prospects AND gave us the opportunity next year to sign Kawhi OR Klay, KD, Kyrie, Butler, Capela, Cousins. We have options now AND we get to see how our young prospects develop under a superstar and veteran leadership, all the while, they're all on rookie scale contracts. If signing isn't the way, and one of our prospects is taking longer to develop, we could find team to trade with who's looking to move their star for a rebuild + Deng's expiring, and we have the space to absorb the contract.

We literally have the best situation we could have asked without gutting our team.

 

Yep.

 

This too. Much better chance of working out a fair deal with the Raptors.

 

KD and Klay are staying. Kyrie doesn't want to play with LeBron, obviously. I don't think adding one of those other guys on our team right now makes us a contender.

 

Right. There are other options and who knows who might get unhappy with their situation and want out.

 

This is what I am hoping for as well. Hopefully we can get away with giving up less, and we get the benefit of seeing if Leonard is healthy. But like I said, the young guys need to make a good jump otherwise their value goes down.

 

All of that is just as speculative as PG wanting to be a Laker. Until it happens, it happens. Klay or KD could bolt for money elsewhere, easily.

We're already a contender in my eyes. Any team with Lebron is an instant contender. Adding an All-Star like Butler or a perfect complimentary piece to our puzzle in a starting quality defensive anchor that feasts at the rim like Capela would only push us further, you can't deny that. Either of those guys with Lebron and our young core would be devastating.

Also, we could trade for a player other than Kawhi with a prospect and Deng's expiring next year. Lillard? Farfetched, but a possibility. Beal? Been thrown around.

Our flexiblity is what puts in great position right now without having to sacrifice much is all I'm saying.

 

Yeah, kawhi as the lone option for improvement is silliness, imo.

 

One thing I'm quite certain of... odds of Kawhi creating a brotherhood and smoking cigars with Lowry --- very low

 

So is "Defense" smh.