Kawhi opts out; Clippers expected to resign him

[TrueLAfan]

Read on Twitter

[MartinToVaught]

No surprises here, his injury just makes it more crucial to secure all the money he can now.

[KL2]

I still think he does the 1+ 1 and get that big contract next summer. It’s the only way he gets some of the money back he left in SA/Toronto.

If he signs the max this summer then they’re worried about his health.

[DoItALL9]

If he opted into the contract could the Clippers trade him for someone like Kemba Walker and then resign Kawhi next offseason?

I'm assuming he's not playing this season

Sent from my LM-G710 using RealGM mobile app

[TucsonClip]

If he opted into the contract could the Clippers trade him for someone like Kemba Walker and then resign Kawhi next offseason?

I'm assuming he's not playing this season

Sent from my LM-G710 using RealGM mobile app

We wouldn't have any rights on him, nor cap space, so no.

[donemilio21]

anyone else worried that if he signs a 4 year max contract he will just sit out the entire next season than play only 40 games a year? I hope not.
It would just lead to a big locker room issues.

[TheNewEra]

Going as planned

[TravisScott55]

4 year deal coming

[donemilio21]

Read on Twitter

[Clemenza]

Look at this sh*t right here, unbelievable.. smh

Read on Twitter

[donemilio21]

Look at this sh*t right here, unbelievable.. smh

Read on Twitter

If he is bluffing, I hope we call it out. Only teams with cap space are Knicks and Spurs. OKC, Mavs, Raptors could presumably clear enough space to sign him.

[DoItALL9]

West might've said not to give him the max

Sent from my LM-G710 using RealGM mobile app

[og15]

Look at this sh*t right here, unbelievable.. smh

Read on Twitter

If he is bluffing, I hope we call it out. Only teams with cap space are Knicks and Spurs. OKC, Mavs, Raptors could presumably clear enough space to sign him.

What would he be bluffing for? Maybe he's trying to see if the grass is much greener elsewhere, which it most likely is not.

[h4rrison]

Kawhi doing Kawhi things. Opts out to leverage the Clippers into getting more assets. I expect the Clips to sign/trade a Derozan caliber player.

[donemilio21]

Look at this sh*t right here, unbelievable.. smh

Read on Twitter

If he is bluffing, I hope we call it out. Only teams with cap space are Knicks and Spurs. OKC, Mavs, Raptors could presumably clear enough space to sign him.

What would he be bluffing for? Maybe he's trying to see if the grass is much greener elsewhere, which it most likely is not.

My guess is to get more preferential treatment, play less games during the season, sit out entire next year, do not have to report or respond to Clippers medical staff or trainers, etc...

[og15]

If he is bluffing, I hope we call it out. Only teams with cap space are Knicks and Spurs. OKC, Mavs, Raptors could presumably clear enough space to sign him.

What would he be bluffing for? Maybe he's trying to see if the grass is much greener elsewhere, which it most likely is not.

My guess is to get more preferential treatment, play less games during the season, sit out entire next year, do not have to report or respond to Clippers medical staff or trainers, etc...

Yeesh, that would be awful

[donemilio21]

What would he be bluffing for? Maybe he's trying to see if the grass is much greener elsewhere, which it most likely is not.

My guess is to get more preferential treatment, play less games during the season, sit out entire next year, do not have to report or respond to Clippers medical staff or trainers, etc...

Yeesh, that would be awful

yeah otherwise who is he gonna sign, the Knicks who just wasted bunch of cap space on Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel ? Mavs just re-upped Hardaway. Spurs? He doesn't have another option, so I can't really think of a better reason for him to look for other offers, but to get a better negotiating hand with us. I hope I'm wrong.

[TheNewEra]

So glad we didn’t do the DeMar deal

[KL2]

I wonder what the hold up on his signing is? Surely he’s impressed with the Clippers moves so far.

[esqtvd]

better thread for this

Another reason why I think the Clippers have not announced any moves yet is that they're working on a trade at this very moment, and the trade may impact the contracts of one of their players. In other words, Leonard could be asked to take a paycut of sorts; James had to do the same thing by accepting a lesser deal in order to take his talents to South Beach and play alongside Wade and Bosh.

The other thing they might be doing is signing prospects and reclamation projects now to build up as assets, then strike at the trade deadline to get the players they wanted originally. Remember in 2019, Clippers wanted Marcus Morris but his price was too steep, so they waited for the trade deadline, but it required giving up one of their players to do so. Same with Rajon Rondo; wanted him in 2020, but his price wasn't affordable so Clippers made up for that mistake by giving up their beloved Sixth Man award winner Lou Williams.

If this happens one more time, we'll have to start questioning the motives behind the Clippers front office. Are they confident in their moves, or do they experience buyer's remorse and feel the need to go back in time to make up for a move they now believe was a mistake?

Wammy's Hot Takes are seldom right but always cool . And I think you're spot-on here. So here's my hot take on Wammy's Hot Take lol--


Look at his stewardship of Microsoft: Ballmer's instincts are conservative. Ballmer made a slow and steady profit but Apple SCORCHED him in the marketplace and in the stock market. Although he maintained a winning team, Ballmer took over a championship franchise and only finished second.

So, retired, 63 and closing in on 65, Ballmer went all-in with his Clippers plaything, the way he never did with Microsoft--trading away his future for PG to get Kawhi. The last first-rounder he traded away isn't until 2026. So what?


And here's where Wammy kills it---there IS Buyer's Remorse. Ballmer invested his entire thing in Kawhi, who's--let's put it charitably--an unreliable partner.

That's why Lawrence Frank is saying now we're drafting for "character," or some such shi*t. But Ballmer gladhanded Blake then traded him away within 6 months, Trezz was dumped like a dog without even a phone call. And Lou--who originally gave us a hometown discount remember AND got us through January/February--was heartbroken when he was dealt.

What does "character" even mean in Ballmer Nation?? "Loyalty" is a two-way street. And Kawhi is nobody's fool.

At least with Sterling, you knew what you were getting. Ballmer needs a ring to make this all worthwhile; Sterling was just getting happy with breaking even. In fact--the V Stiviano race talk scandal aside--I bet Sterling wouldn't have done to Blake what Ballmer did. He's not that good a bullshi*tter. Ballmer made his fortune on his gladhanding rah-rah bullhi*t.

Watch on YouTube

But Kawhi is nobody's fool. He sees what you see, Wammy. Well done. Loyalty--at least where Ballmer or Kawhi is concerned--is a sucker's game. Neither of them deserve anyone's trust. Frankly, LeBron and Jeanie Buss deserve the ring next year more than we do.

And as a dedicated Laker hater, it kills me to say this. Ballmer set up a house of cards.