Kawhi wants a trade

[B-Fly]

Preferably to the Lakers. Not sure who the Lakers would be looking to take back, but I'm sure it won't be Lonzo Ball, because the Spurs wouldn't want LeVar Ball. Would Ingrahm, Kuzma and Hart, plus Channing Frye's one year to make the salaries work out, get the job done? Would that still allow the Lakers to sign both LeBron and George, or just one of the two?

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23803570/kawhi-leonard-wants-san-antonio-spurs

Obviously a starting lineup of Ball, Leonard, James, George and Zubac would be instant contenders even against the Warriors, no?

[Pauly]

Preferably to the Lakers. Not sure who the Lakers would be looking to take back, but I'm sure it won't be Lonzo Ball, because the Spurs wouldn't want LeVar Ball. Would Ingrahm, Kuzma and Hart, plus Channing Frye's one year to make the salaries work out, get the job done? Would that still allow the Lakers to sign both LeBron and George, or just one of the two?

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23803570/kawhi-leonard-wants-san-antonio-spurs

Obviously a starting lineup of Ball, Leonard, James, George and Zubac would be instant contenders even against the Warriors, no?

Certainly any team with Lebron instantly competes for the title, but this seems like total overkill. That's 3 SF on the same team...and I dont see a whole lot of shooting. I think this lineup looks good in fantasy hoops, but not so much in real life. They should only target two of them and try to find a 3 point specialist to play the 2 if they want to beat GSW.

[B-Fly]

Certainly any team with Lebron instantly competes for the title, but this seems like total overkill. That's 3 SF on the same team...and I dont see a whole lot of shooting. I think this lineup looks good in fantasy hoops, but not so much in real life. They should only target two of them and try to find a 3 point specialist to play the 2 if they want to beat GSW.

None of those guys are pure small forwards. Kawhi has played and absolutely can play SG. George has often played PF, and LeBron is obviously big enough to bang from the four as well, plus you've got a great rebounder at the 1 in Ball. Kawhi is one of the best shooters in the game, and George can obviously bomb from distance as well. Recall LeBron's Heat teams. Wade wasn't a shooter either, and Bosh developed his outside game while with the Heat. They would presumably fill in with other low end shooters off the bench. I agree that Ball's shooting woes present a problem, but there's no way the Spurs want the Ball family in that organization. And the defense between Leonard, George and James could be pretty damn smothering too, if and when they want and need it to be.

[heyelander]

Preferably to the Lakers. Not sure who the Lakers would be looking to take back, but I'm sure it won't be Lonzo Ball, because the Spurs wouldn't want LeVar Ball. Would Ingrahm, Kuzma and Hart, plus Channing Frye's one year to make the salaries work out, get the job done? Would that still allow the Lakers to sign both LeBron and George, or just one of the two?

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23803570/kawhi-leonard-wants-san-antonio-spurs

Obviously a starting lineup of Ball, Leonard, James, George and Zubac would be instant contenders even against the Warriors, no?

I don't think Boston has the cap space, but I think they could easily but a better package than that together.

[heyelander]

Following the events of draft night, here were the updated odds for which team will employ Kawhi at the start of the 2018/19 regular season, per BetDSI (as of 6/22):

Boston Celtics +225
Philadelphia Sixers +350
San Antonio Spurs +400
Los Angeles Lakers +500
Phoenix Suns +700
Los Angeles Clippers +1600
Any Other Team +150

https://www.libertyballers.com/2018/6/23/17495904/the-hunters-for-spurs-star-kawhi-leonard

[heyelander]

As the article said though, a lot is going to come down to where he agrees to a longer term contract.

[B-Fly]

As the article said though, a lot is going to come down to where he agrees to a longer term contract.

He won't agree to sign long term with anyone other than the Lakers, in my opinion, so a team would need to take a gamble like OKC did with Paul George, hoping that he'll be so happy with his teammates and the organizational culture that he decides to give up his LA dream.

Or, the Spurs can basically conclude that they need to get past their Kawhi drama quickly and that LA is their best trading partner long-term because they know they can keep him and will therefore give up more to get him, and just live with the likelihood that it vaults yet another team above them in the Western Conference pecking order for the next few years.

[B-Fly]

Kawhi apparently traded to Toronto in a deal that includes DeRozan going to San Antonio. Other involved players/details still to come. I can't imagine there's any chance Toronto gets Kawhi to stay beyond this year, so pending further details, this seems to be a strange move for them. They must feel that Kawhi is the kind of player who can take them from a great regular season team to a true post-season threat.

[Judge Jude]

Adrian Wojnarowski
Verified account @wojespn

Spurs have agree to trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Trade call with league office is starting shortly.
8:58 AM - 18 Jul 2018

(Pick apparently protected if in top 20)

[B-Fly]

Fantasy wise, this makes me interested in Fred Van Vleet and Poeltl, who should get more run behind Gasol than behind JV, Ibaka and Siakam. I think Kawhi and DeRozan would largely sustain similar value.

[B-Fly]

And it appears that both Kawhi and DeMar are super pissed off about this trade, which could be bad for everyone involved.

https://deadspin.com/reports-kawhi-leonard-is-going-to-the-raptors-and-he-h-1827681916

https://deadspin.com/the-raptors-seem-to-have-put-a-knife-in-demar-derozans-1827685023

[TranaGreg]

And it appears that both Kawhi and DeMar are super pissed off about this trade, which could be bad for everyone involved.

https://deadspin.com/reports-kawhi-leonard-is-going-to-the-raptors-and-he-h-1827681916

https://deadspin.com/the-raptors-see...ans-1827685023

fwiw, we Toronto fans are used to players being pissed once traded here (see Tulo, Marcus Camby, others); there's always that perception that we're some backwater tundra. That's okay, either kawhi discovers a cool new home, or he comes with a chip on his shoulder & plays for a big free agent contract next summer ... either way works for us.

[Art Vandelay]

fwiw, we Toronto fans are used to players being pissed once traded here (see Tulo, Marcus Camby, others); there's always that perception that we're some backwater tundra. That's okay, either kawhi discovers a cool new home, or he comes with a chip on his shoulder & plays for a big free agent contract next summer ... either way works for us.

For the most part, non-Canadian athletes do not realize Toronto is (either) the 4th or 5th largest metro area in North America. We have EVERYTHING. Arts, sports, dining, urban, rural, education, night life...EVERYTHING! And Toronto is extremely multi-cultural.

When the Raptors were born, a good friend of mine had an 'in' as the raptor barber. He heard it so many times "I didn't know Toronto was so awesome."

Only one time I every read of an athlete still wanting to leave the city after being here for a while. Forget the dudes name, he played basketball, said "I want my children to learn American stuff in school". Nothing against Toronto, just didn't appreciate the education system because it is Canadian.

Anyhow, I'm with Greg, perception changes once they spend some time in Toronto.

[chancellor]

fwiw, we Toronto fans are used to players being pissed once traded here (see Tulo, Marcus Camby, others); there's always that perception that we're some backwater tundra. That's okay, either kawhi discovers a cool new home, or he comes with a chip on his shoulder & plays for a big free agent contract next summer ... either way works for us.

Unfortunately, there's a C) option here, which is to get another minor injury and then tank the remainder of the season. He knows he'll still get paid to go somewhere he's motivated.

IMO, the problem isn't that he thinks Tranna is a backwater. The problem is that Tranna, nice as it is, isn't LA. And to top it off, the Raptors have DeRozan essentially calling their management team liars and untrustworthy, which may well be something else Kawhi takes notice of.

[Riff Raff]

Fantasy wise, this makes me interested in Fred Van Vleet and Poeltl, who should get more run behind Gasol than behind JV, Ibaka and Siakam. I think Kawhi and DeRozan would largely sustain similar value.

Van Vleet was not included.

No offense Fly, but if Kawhi is healthy he is a top 5 fantasy guy. Derozan is not. Scoring output about equal, and DeRozan may get a few more assists but apples to apples only a fool would draft DeRozan over Kawhi.

To the trade, love it for Toronto. You asked why T.O. would do this Fly - simple - to get out of DeRozan's awful contract. Last years playoffs solidified that he is truly a Dino in 2018 - he would fit in perfectly, in the 90s iso league. If Kawhi won't re-sign, he gets dealt in Feb. The Raps then rebuild and pawn off Ibaka's and Lowry's deals in 19/20. If he re-signs, Raps win this hands down.

Think of it this way: The Raps won what, 59 games w/ DeRozan. Replace him with a vastly superior defender and 3 pt shooter (just more efficient overall) - the Rap's won't suffer at all. Again, assuming he is healthy.