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

Yes.

I mean I don't know.

 

Why would Toronto include Derozan who isn’t expiring in that trade? I understand if they were both expiring and Toronto wanted to shoot their shot at having Kawhi stay, but otherwise, why would they risk trading their all star player, whom still has multiple years on his contract, for a guy that can walk the very next year?

 

This sounds good. We give up nothing, and Kawhi goes east. If he is not happy there, we give him a warm welcome next summer.

 

I still think thats a terrible risk.

Kawhi is STILL apparently injured, says he only wants to be in LA, and if he walks, yeah they’re off DeRozen’s contract, but it’s never good to let an all star walk when you’re in a city that has a hard time attracting stars.

So say Toronto has a bunch of cap space because Kawhi walks... now what? Does any other all star really sign there into your cap space with no other all stars on the team? No, you’re in a much better position to try to trade for someone that will be there for a few years, and including DeRozen in the trade.

 

Cap space can only be a plan if you have something attractive for free agents. Lakers are in a city with lots of business opportunities, visibility for endorsement deals, and talented young players on great contracts due to drafting well. Toronto has none of that.

And I don’t nessisarily think DeRozen is the best player in the world, but he’s all they got, and he still has value league wide. They should be very very careful not to squander the only valuable commodity they have as a team, so I think it’s foolish for them to roll the dice on Kawhi.

That being said, it would be great for the Lakers! By all means please do trade for Kawhi and let him long for 70 degree Los Angeles nights.

 

I think it makes sense for both sides, especially if there's a pick going back to Toronto.

For whatever reason, San Antonio still doesn't understand that they're about to go through a rebuild. They've been up front that they want established players back as much, if not more, than young assets. DeRozan's atrocious performance in the playoffs has outworn his welcome in Toronto, it's time to try again somewhere else. OG Anunoby is actually the one I don't understand being included in the deal. That kid is rock solid. If he were on Boston, people would be fawning over him instead of Jaylen Brown.

For Toronto, they might be more willing to go through the rebuild. Almost all of their salary comes off the books in 2019 or 2020. They clearly aren't good enough to win anything. Ibaka has regressed so much he's hardly a factor at all anymore. Valanciunas is nothing. The Lowry/DeRozan connection doesn't work. Neither of them are strong enough to lead a team to the Finals. By doing this, you clear salary and get a player who might actually be good enough to get the team there. If Kawhi walks, he walks. The rebuild starts. If he stays, you get a piece actually worth building around.

A trade that makes a little more sense is DeRozan/Poltl/Powell for Kawhi/Gasol/2020 1st (protected lottery).