Are We Having Fun Yet?
_IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clip _IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clip
wco81 wrote:If he wanted to stay, he can say it now, doesn't have to wait until free agency begins. He can't say that about another team though.
But if he's willing to take meetings at this point, it sounds like he is looking for a diplomatic way to say adios.
Tom Ziller wrote:It’s happened before. Eleven years ago, the Clippers were three years removed from a thrilling playoff run — their first in a decade — and looking to put a true star next to 29-year-old, two-time all-star (and free agent) Elton Brand. Brand had missed basically all of 2007-08 with an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile Baron Davis, an LA native, had led the We Believe! Warriors to their best record in ages, but Golden State missed out on the 2008 playoffs due to wild West quality. Davis had a massive player option, but was expected to return to the Warriors.
Just before free agency began on July 1, 2008 — literally hours before — word spread that Davis was not opting in and would join Brand with the Clippers, signaling the rise of LA’s second team. Except Brand wasn’t all of the way on board, and soon signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Clippers’ grand plans developed and went poof within a couple hours.
Davis ended up stranded in LA with a bad team, and LA ended up stranded with Davis. The Clippers lost their season opener against the Lakers by 38 points and finished 19-63, bad enough to land Blake Griffin in the lottery. They stayed bad for a few more years, even winning the No. 1 pick again in 2011. Bad news: they’d traded that pick, which became Kyrie Irving, unprotected to the Cavaliers to move off Davis’ contract (whoops!). Eventually, Basketball Reasons (Ed. Note: a helping hand from David Stern) brought them Chris Paul and glory.
_IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clip Wammy Giveaway wrote:Did you know the Clippers have been in this situation before? A promising future, proven playoff resume, and their search for a savior?
Just like when they sought the services of Baron Davis in 2008.
(from SB Nation: Do The L.A. Clippers Have A Bright Future After All?Tom Ziller wrote:It’s happened before. Eleven years ago, the Clippers were three years removed from a thrilling playoff run — their first in a decade — and looking to put a true star next to 29-year-old, two-time all-star (and free agent) Elton Brand. Brand had missed basically all of 2007-08 with an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile Baron Davis, an LA native, had led the We Believe! Warriors to their best record in ages, but Golden State missed out on the 2008 playoffs due to wild West quality. Davis had a massive player option, but was expected to return to the Warriors.
Just before free agency began on July 1, 2008 — literally hours before — word spread that Davis was not opting in and would join Brand with the Clippers, signaling the rise of LA’s second team. Except Brand wasn’t all of the way on board, and soon signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Clippers’ grand plans developed and went poof within a couple hours.
Davis ended up stranded in LA with a bad team, and LA ended up stranded with Davis. The Clippers lost their season opener against the Lakers by 38 points and finished 19-63, bad enough to land Blake Griffin in the lottery. They stayed bad for a few more years, even winning the No. 1 pick again in 2011. Bad news: they’d traded that pick, which became Kyrie Irving, unprotected to the Cavaliers to move off Davis’ contract (whoops!). Eventually, Basketball Reasons (Ed. Note: a helping hand from David Stern) brought them Chris Paul and glory.
But we all know what happened during the Paul-Griffin years: playoff loss after playoff loss after playoff loss. Clipper franchise started becoming miserable, the dreams of stardom got into their heads that the franchise failed to keep their players and front office in check.
The above excerpt is one of many risks the Clippers will be taking when they meet with Kawhi Leonard on July 2. As I stated before in another page, if the Clippers can keep the recruiting within the basketball side of things and not glorify Leonard as their grand savior be it in basketball or PR, they will get him.
wco81 wrote:If he wanted to stay, he can say it now, doesn't have to wait until free agency begins. He can't say that about another team though.
But if he's willing to take meetings at this point, it sounds like he is looking for a diplomatic way to say adios.
Sam Amick wrote:As for the Clippers threat, it’s fair to wonder if the absence of a second Clippers star might be enough to dissuade him from leaving such a good situation North of the border. As such, a natural question arises: Who might the Clippers be able to pair
with Kawhi?
There are many scenarios seemingly in play, but sources say one in particular looks increasingly possible: Butler teaming up with Leonard on the Clippers. There are strong indications that Leonard is interested in having Butler as a running mate, and it’s the sort of powerful pairing that would certainly vault the Clippers into contention.
They had long been dreaming of a Leonard-Durant duo, but the Golden State star is believed to be focused far more on the Knicks, Nets, and Warriors at the moment. As Plan Bs go, and considering the fight for the Los Angeles spotlight that will continue with the LeBron/AD Lakers, it would be a very good one.
In order for the Clippers to create enough space for a second max player, they would have to find a new home for veteran forward Danilo Gallinari ($22.6 million next season in the final year of his deal). What’s more, Butler is known to be a priority target for the 76ers, Houston Rockets and perhaps others. But back to Leonard.
The Clippers’ challenge here, of course, will be to convince him that they have much more to offer than the well-chronicled geography factor. Yes, Leonard is a Southern California native who is widely known to be interested in returning to his homeland. But he’s also someone who values the game itself above all else.
QRich3 wrote:Sam Amick reporting now that going after Butler as a ploy to convince Kawhi is emerging as a possibility, god I really hope that's not trueSam Amick wrote:As for the Clippers threat, it’s fair to wonder if the absence of a second Clippers star might be enough to dissuade him from leaving such a good situation North of the border. As such, a natural question arises: Who might the Clippers be able to pair
with Kawhi?
There are many scenarios seemingly in play, but sources say one in particular looks increasingly possible: Butler teaming up with Leonard on the Clippers. There are strong indications that Leonard is interested in having Butler as a running mate, and it’s the sort of powerful pairing that would certainly vault the Clippers into contention.
They had long been dreaming of a Leonard-Durant duo, but the Golden State star is believed to be focused far more on the Knicks, Nets, and Warriors at the moment. As Plan Bs go, and considering the fight for the Los Angeles spotlight that will continue with the LeBron/AD Lakers, it would be a very good one.
In order for the Clippers to create enough space for a second max player, they would have to find a new home for veteran forward Danilo Gallinari ($22.6 million next season in the final year of his deal). What’s more, Butler is known to be a priority target for the 76ers, Houston Rockets and perhaps others. But back to Leonard.
The Clippers’ challenge here, of course, will be to convince him that they have much more to offer than the well-chronicled geography factor. Yes, Leonard is a Southern California native who is widely known to be interested in returning to his homeland. But he’s also someone who values the game itself above all else.
https://theathletic.com/1049513/2019/06/27/nba-free-agency-mysteries-from-kawhi-to-kd-on-down-clues-emerge/
whysoserious wrote:Does this same logic then apply to Klay and Kevin who can announce they're staying but haven't and could take meetings. Are they also looking for diplomatic ways to say adios?
_IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clip Klaw22 wrote:"Meanwhile more credible reporters like Ramona Shelburne, Michael C. Wright, Shams Charania and even Adrian Wojnarowski all last reported that Kawhi preferred to join the Clippers" they don't have any sources, it's their thoughts. and sorry but all of them are LA based reporters and half of them working for espn - that espn that wants every star in LA since 5-7 years. what sells more, what gives u more clicks, kawhi maybe re-signing in toronto or going to the clippers, yes last one, cause no one cares in cali about toronto.
Ranma wrote:Uh...Shelburne is the only local reporter covering Los Angeles. Wright covers the Spurs while Charania and Wojnarowski cover basketball nationally. Just because ESPN has a base of operations in L.A. does not mean that they do nothing but cover Los Angeles all the time. Are you freaking high? ESPN's East-Coast bias is still alive and well so I have no idea what the heck you're talking about and apparently neither do you.
_IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clip Bingomadmaxmedia wrote:QRich3 wrote:Sam Amick reporting now that going after Butler as a ploy to convince Kawhi is emerging as a possibility, god I really hope that's not trueSam Amick wrote:As for the Clippers threat, it’s fair to wonder if the absence of a second Clippers star might be enough to dissuade him from leaving such a good situation North of the border. As such, a natural question arises: Who might the Clippers be able to pair
with Kawhi?
There are many scenarios seemingly in play, but sources say one in particular looks increasingly possible: Butler teaming up with Leonard on the Clippers. There are strong indications that Leonard is interested in having Butler as a running mate, and it’s the sort of powerful pairing that would certainly vault the Clippers into contention.
They had long been dreaming of a Leonard-Durant duo, but the Golden State star is believed to be focused far more on the Knicks, Nets, and Warriors at the moment. As Plan Bs go, and considering the fight for the Los Angeles spotlight that will continue with the LeBron/AD Lakers, it would be a very good one.
In order for the Clippers to create enough space for a second max player, they would have to find a new home for veteran forward Danilo Gallinari ($22.6 million next season in the final year of his deal). What’s more, Butler is known to be a priority target for the 76ers, Houston Rockets and perhaps others. But back to Leonard.
The Clippers’ challenge here, of course, will be to convince him that they have much more to offer than the well-chronicled geography factor. Yes, Leonard is a Southern California native who is widely known to be interested in returning to his homeland. But he’s also someone who values the game itself above all else.
https://theathletic.com/1049513/2019/06/27/nba-free-agency-mysteries-from-kawhi-to-kd-on-down-clues-emerge/
If that's what it takes at the end of the day, I will take the KL/JB duo over nothing any day of the week. It will have meant we moved Gallo and let guys like Beverly go, but look at what we get.
_IGNORED: Max Headrom-esqtvd-QRich3-EBledsoe12-alon8882-45clipReturn to Los Angeles Clippers
