Woj: Kawhi still leaning towards Clippers, Raptors have a lot of work to do still

[Scorpion King]

Has someone who used to live in L.A. It's such a overrated city. Traffic, Forest fires, lots of phonies and most importantly it's so spread out you have to drive everywhere.

Only good thing is the weather. Its not like Kawhi has any aspiration to be a celebrity and hollywood producer like lebron.

Kawhi is rich enough to move his family anywhere he goes.

[Stillwater]

win? or win at home? BYE

[sule]

We just won a championship and clipsfan is at it again... just let us enjoy this for the next 2 weeks until the man makes his decision.

cant enjoy **** around here

Hey now, we're champions. I suggest you use appropriate memes.

[NinjaBro]

I am literally shocked that this thread is started by ClipsFanSince98. Mind blown.

[Forte IV]

It never ceases to shock me how willing players are to trade legacy for warm weather.

While I agree with the basics of what you said, winning a 3rd title, and a 2nd one with a franchise that's never won before, would absolutely boost his legacy. Imagine being the first guy to win finals MVP with 3 different teams. Be the first guy to bring a title to two teams that have never won before. That's legacy boosting.

[sule]

I mean, if he had sources...why didn't he say Kawhi to Toronto was a lock last summer? None of them got that right, because they don't have sources in Toronto. This ship don't leak.

That's why they're mad. Woj especially. It's pretty well known that he tends to attack teams and camps in which he has no sources. It's why he takes every chance he can to go against LeBron. They don't intentionally leak to him. And all of Woj's sources against the Raps regarding Kawhi have been from the Clippers' camp. The Clippers leak to him, so he pushes for their narrative.

[dan-man]

Let’s all be real tea here.

Woj is on the Clippers books. It is now blatantly obvious

Help me out with the logic of what you consider to be blatantly obvious. So Woj is on the Clippers books and they're paying him to put out there that Kawhi is still interested. The point of that would be what? That Kawhi, not actually being interested in the Clippers is now going to become interested in them after reading Woj say he is?

Steve Ballmer is a mad man and they’re trying to paint a picture.

How does Woj have an update on the situation right after they just won an NBA title?! Kawhi is a very difficult man to read and he doesn’t reveal much.

It’s all just speculation from Woj and truth is he doesn’t actually know ****.

Woj can see into their souls.

[OkcSinceSGA]

I am literally shocked that this thread is started by ClipsFanSince98. Mind blown.

Blame Woj. I just share NBA news that comes up on my BR feed...

[OkcSinceSGA]

I mean, if he had sources...why didn't he say Kawhi to Toronto was a lock last summer? None of them got that right, because they don't have sources in Toronto. This ship don't leak.

That's why they're mad. Woj especially. It's pretty well known that he tends to attack teams and camps in which he has no sources. It's why he takes every chance he can to go against LeBron. They don't intentionally leak to him. And all of Woj's sources against the Raps regarding Kawhi have been from the Clippers' camp. The Clippers leak to him, so he pushes for their narrative.

Clippers don't leak whatsoever IMO. Every single one of their trades the last two years shocked everyone and had zero rumors leading into it. There was ZERO thought or rumor of the Blake trade. The Tobias trade. The Zubac trade. The Grizzlies trade. All came out of nowhere.

[Got Nuffin]

With Durant out of the picture for a long time, its hard to see Kawhi leaving the champs with one of the best young coaches, good young talent, Masai-god, and the best defensive system in the entire league to go and play with Lou Williams of all people.


Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

[Lego Legs]

I mean, if he had sources...why didn't he say Kawhi to Toronto was a lock last summer? None of them got that right, because they don't have sources in Toronto. This ship don't leak.

That's why they're mad. Woj especially. It's pretty well known that he tends to attack teams and camps in which he has no sources. It's why he takes every chance he can to go against LeBron. They don't intentionally leak to him. And all of Woj's sources against the Raps regarding Kawhi have been from the Clippers' camp. The Clippers leak to him, so he pushes for their narrative.

Clippers don't leak whatsoever IMO. Every single one of their trades the last two years shocked everyone and had zero rumors leading into it. There was ZERO thought or rumor of the Blake trade. The Tobias trade. The Zubac trade. The Grizzlies trade. All came out of nowhere.

They hired Lee Jenkins for a reason. They leak like Deepwater Horizon.

[sule]

One interesting point that Cris Carter said was that Kawhi stayed with San Diego State even after programs from UCLA et al were recruiting him b/c they believed in him before he won the high school state championship. That he could've left for somewhere else, but didn't b/c of that established trust.

I think Kawhi would stay in Toronto b/c, as Kawhi has stated a couple times, Masai stated from the beginning that he believed in him and wanted to do whatever possible to keep him healthy for the playoffs.

If Kawhi is consistent in his decision-making, then that will be perhaps the biggest factor that keeps him in Toronto, compared to the Clippers.

On top of that, Raps have the best chance of repeating (at the moment) should he decide to stay. The West is wide open without any clear contender thus far, and the best teams in the East outside of the Raps look to all be taking a step or two (or more) back. Philly could lose some players (Butler, Redick, Harris), Boston losing Kyrie and likely go back to rebuilding, and Milwaukee won't be able to keep all their free agents.

Lowry and Gasol and Ibaka get a year older, but Siakam could take another step forward as could OG (who can be an effective 3+D and didn't even play in the playoffs this year). VanVleet would be entering a contract year. As will Lowry, Ibaka, and Gasol. One more push with this core isn't unreasonable and wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the Raps to at least make it back to the Finals. Raps very well could be Kawhi's best chance to repeat, and after that, while every other big team will be locked into huge contracts, the Raptors will have big cap space to restructure again moving forward.

Give Kawhi player options and continue to build to the strengths of the team and another Finals run wouldn't be out of the question.

Kawhi wouldn't be able to jump into contention with the Clippers unless they signed Butler and/or Kemba and/or Kyrie. And kemba looks like he is gonna re-sign with Charlotte, and Kyrie looks like he's headed towards Brooklyn. Durant and Klay are irrelevant next year. I doubt Kawhi wants to wait a year struggling on a team that could be forced to play him more than the Raps did this year, just to make the playoffs.

[The Hypnotoad]

I’m sure Kawhi, in his mind, believes he alone can turn pretty much any team into an instant contender. So I’m not sure roster or even staying with Toronto just to win a title is going to impact his decision.

[Middle Child]

No reason for Kawhi to stay in Toronto. He’s proven at this point wherever he goes they can beat anyone.

He’s Clipper bound.

[simple_jack]

I’m sure Kawhi, in his mind, believes he alone can turn pretty much any team into an instant contender. So I’m not sure roster or even staying with Toronto just to win a title is going to impact his decision.

Masai>>>>Jerry West

[shza]

Has someone who used to live in L.A. It's such a overrated city. Traffic, Forest fires, lots of phonies and most importantly it's so spread out you have to drive everywhere.

Only good thing is the weather. Its not like Kawhi has any aspiration to be a celebrity and hollywood producer like lebron.

Kawhi is rich enough to move his family anywhere he goes.

He's FROM LA. But maybe if enough random internet posters who used to live there for a few years in their young adulthood explain to him that it's overrated and that you have to drive because it's spread out, he'll get it and decide he doesn't want to be there.

[First Step]

Told you guys, if he were even LEANING towards Toronto, he would just come out and say it. None of this, "I'm not thinking about that right now", and all of this nonsense. Do any of you study psychology or human nature? Have you read the "Laws of Human Nature"? Do any of you actually think he hasn't thought about this? Are as human nature suggests, you convince yourselves that he's telling the truth because thats your truth, you want him to stay. Instead of logically thinking to yourself, of course he's thought about it, unless you actually think he's a cyborg and not a human.

People give away hints in their tone and body language without even realizing it.

He's obviously giving the politically correct answer, but it's not unreasonable that he hasn't made a decision.

I'm sure now that the season is done, he can sit down with his family and lay out all the scenarios and make the best decision for himself.

This is what I'm saying though. You don't think he's already done this? If not with his family, I'm sure he's laid all this out and weighed all these options personally already. I'm still stuck on, what's left to talk about?

What I'm saying is if he were really leaning towards Toronto, there would be no need to give a politically correct answer. You could just tell the truth.

No, the fact that the Raptors won the title is new information for him to make his decision. I think he's thought about it, obviously, but I don't think he's made a final decision yet. He now has the full season to reflect on.

[mademan]

No reason for Kawhi to stay in Toronto. He’s proven at this point wherever he goes they can beat anyone.

He’s Clipper bound.

By winning with the best organization who's been winning for 15 years before him?

Or by taking Derozans place on a 60 win team?

Dude's amazing and has been ridiculous for the Raps; but this chit wasnt a 1 man band.

[ratul]

I don’t get the timing of these woj bombs.

[VanWest82]

I've been operating under the assumption that he's gone since the moment Raptors traded for him. It should surprise no one if he leaves for LA. The fact that Raptors are even in the discussion to re-sign him is incredible. He certainly seemed pretty buddy buddy with Lowry last night. We'll see.