The Board Man Cometh!! Kawhi Leonard Signs 3 Year (2+1), $103 Million Deal

[Roscoe Sheed]

$32 million is a full max slot? I know the raptors can offer more than that, but can’t the clippers as well?

[Wammy Giveaway]

Lakers always friggin win. Things just got more complicated.

If I were Clippers fan I'd be even more nervous because not only do you have to pry him from the championship team with the lure of LA, but THEN you have to convince him to go with the Clippers over the Lakers.

Seriously, we need stronger security around here, Lakers weren't even invited to the party, and now they're sitting at the head table.

Who let this happen?

The Lakers always win because they made the NBA with their connections to Hollywood and the entertainment industry when they moved from Minnesota. They saved the NBA from bankruptcy in the 1980's with the drafting of Magic Johnson and the rebirth of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry. They're the main drive for NBA with regards to television ratings. They're the notable global brand. This is why I've always felt that the Lakers are the golden goose of the league, despite being two titles away from being the de facto franchise (Celtics have 17 to Lakers 16). Whoever has the gold makes the rules.

What they hate is also what they fear: other teams usurping the Lakers place as the controlling leader of the league. They don't like San Antonio and their humility. They don't like it when a Hall Of Fame player is playing for a conference rival, let alone one in the east, particularly their arch nemesis the Celtics. They especially hate that the Clippers are living in their kingdom. It's all about Laker dominion and what they believe is in their best interest. Their vision is endless Lakers-Celtics rivalries, stealing all other team's Hall Of Famers, and resurrecting the Supersonics by sacrificing the Clippers, thinking their mere existence is the cause of Seattle getting robbed by Clay Bennett.

My greatest fear with Lakers isn't them getting Kawhi Leonard, though it's kind of close. It's getting Chris Paul, the president of the players association, and using his influence to manifest a new Lakers order. Paul has a hefty contract which makes him untradable, but if he were bought out...

"Whoa boy!" - Jim Carrey

[wco81]

Interesting that the Laker troll in this thread is named Cupcake.

If Kawhi signs with the Lakers to join Lebron and AD, what does that make him?

[TucsonClip]

$32 million is a full max slot? I know the raptors can offer more than that, but can’t the clippers as well?

Every team can offer the same starting salary. Toronto can offer the fifth year and eight-percent raises instead of five percent.

[esqtvd]

Lou played a season in Toronto.

"It's like playing overseas. After 5 months, you can't wait for a road trip and get back to America!"

Read on Twitter

/video/1

[esqtvd]

saw this all over Twitter

Read on Twitter

________________________

ADD: After all the bullcrap Butler took in Chicago, it was the T-Wolves who turned out to be dogs and it was Jimmy Buckets who had the eye of the tiger for the kitten-soft Sixers. I love it.

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[QRich3]

No one really has the slightest clue what's he gonna do, from the sky is falling guys, to the Lakers bro that's going all in in his wild guess, to the most connected reporters. Kawhi's gonna do whatever he wants to and absolutely no one knows what that is, so all of the pseudo-science guessing and reasoning is just a pastime, don't kid yourselves.

I am more than cool with his decision whatever it may be, I'd rather he not go to the Lakers cause it'd create a rival in the West, but if he does, I'll be more than excited to watch what the Clippers do with the capspace, see if they make a play for Tyus Jones or Bobby Portis, or if they try to absorb bad salary for picks, or whatever it is the way they keep building this thing. I've been saying this the whole year too, in this very thread, so it's not just pivoting because the Lakers got max capspace. Him not coming is not just not the end of the world, it might be better long term. Raptors brothers would do well having a similar mentality too, you just won a chip, if you can run it back that's great, if not you should be excited for the next iteration Masai's gonna build.

By the way, the Lakers didn't open a full max slot, they're now able to offer a starting salary of $32,021,399 which is about $700k shy of Kawhi's max (depending on where the cap ends up). That means Kawhi, or any 7-9 years max free agent, would have to take a $3M paycut over the life of a 4 year contract. Not sure how much of a factor it's gonna be, but it's worth mentioning.

[Ranma]

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[Cupcake17]

No one really has the slightest clue what's he gonna do, from the sky is falling guys, to the Lakers bro that's going all in in his wild guess, to the most connected reporters. Kawhi's gonna do whatever he wants to and absolutely no one knows what that is, so all of the pseudo-science guessing and reasoning is just a pastime, don't kid yourselves.

I am more than cool with his decision whatever it may be, I'd rather he not go to the Lakers cause it'd create a rival in the West, but if he does, I'll be more than excited to watch what the Clippers do with the capspace, see if they make a play for Tyus Jones or Bobby Portis, or if they try to absorb bad salary for picks, or whatever it is the way they keep building this thing. I've been saying this the whole year too, in this very thread, so it's not just pivoting because the Lakers got max capspace. Him not coming is not just not the end of the world, it might be better long term. Raptors brothers would do well having a similar mentality too, you just won a chip, if you can run it back that's great, if not you should be excited for the next iteration Masai's gonna build.

By the way, the Lakers didn't open a full max slot, they're now able to offer a starting salary of $32,021,399 which is about $700k shy of Kawhi's max (depending on where the cap ends up). That means Kawhi, or any 7-9 years max free agent, would have to take a $3M paycut over the life of a 4 year contract. Not sure how much of a factor it's gonna be, but it's worth mentioning.

There are people who know what he's going to do because it's been a made decision for over a year now.

[Quake Griffin]

Watch on YouTube

[Texas_Lakers]

He ain't going to the Clipaaaaaaas, KL is going to the Lakers or staying in Toronto.

[LordBri14]

What’s the clippers pitch to kawhi gonna be like? “Join us and we will hang your selfie in staples.”

[donemilio21]

If we were to get both Butler and Kawhi, I think it would be wise for us to keep Gallo at PF, unless we can a good shooting center like Lopez. I have no idea how it would all work. Salary cap stuff is very complex.

[mttwlsn16]

The amount of trolls who have appeared in this thread is amusing

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

So LeBron, AD, and Magic are about to pitch Kawhi.

I can lie and say their dysfunction makes me believe they wont be effective but....like I said, I'd be lying.

[wco81]

What are they going to tell him, after Lebron and AD get their touches, he can have some leftovers?

Which of the 3 are going to be the alphas and which the betas?

[donemilio21]

The amount of trolls who have appeared in this thread is amusing

it shows you how confident they are

[mttwlsn16]

The amount of trolls who have appeared in this thread is amusing

it shows you how confident they are

You're 100% right