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

[BramptonYute]

Bruh, the Raptors cant do anymore work. Theres nothing left to do.

If the raps still have work to do, that means Kawhi is leaving. Which would suck, but he brought us a championship. Cant be mad at the guy

[OkcSinceSGA]

Bruh, the Raptors cant do anymore work. Theres nothing left to do.

If the raps still have work to do, that means Kawhi is leaving. Which would suck, but he brought us a championship. Cant be mad at the guy

Well he's got a bunch of offers for free mansions, companies, cars etc. Sounds like Toronto as a city thinks they can buy him.

[Klayforspicy]

He can go if he hasnt been convinced yet. Its no ill will.

[6ixSideSniper]

Bruh, the Raptors cant do anymore work. Theres nothing left to do.

If the raps still have work to do, that means Kawhi is leaving. Which would suck, but he brought us a championship. Cant be mad at the guy

Well he's got a bunch of offers for free mansions, companies, cars etc. Sounds like Toronto as a city thinks they can buy him.

The Clippers have been desperately stalking him and tried using his logo as bait as if they were hunting an animal.

[Banner18]

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.

I think that’s a totally fair point, but having lived in LA for four years, I can’t imagine there’s a worse franchise in all of sports than the Clippers. I can honestly say that I have never seen a clipper fan in the wild before. I went to a Clippers/Blazers playoff game before and in between timeouts they were shooting off shirts and dropping gift cards form the rafters in parachutes. I’ve gone to a couple Celtics playoff games before, and I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing; it really damaged how I view LA sports in general.

Kawhi could win a championship here, and I don’t think anyone would actually care.

[Jcity08]

He owed us nothing before and he definitely owes us nothing now after he carried us to a damn Championship. The man has my deepest respect. Salute.

Wherever he ends up, I'm still going to be happy for the guy.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Bruh, the Raptors cant do anymore work. Theres nothing left to do.

If the raps still have work to do, that means Kawhi is leaving. Which would suck, but he brought us a championship. Cant be mad at the guy

Well he's got a bunch of offers for free mansions, companies, cars etc. Sounds like Toronto as a city thinks they can buy him.

The Clippers have been desperately stalking him and tried using his logo as bait as if they were hunting an animal.

Scouting NBA players is "stalking"? Buying his logo from Nike to revive it is smart. Not as desperate as trying to buy him with mansions and all this crap lmao.

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using RealGM mobile app

[Iamtheliquor]

I know basketball never sleeps but F right OFF WOJ, let us enjoy this for a weekend. CHRIST

[OkcSinceSGA]

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.

I think that’s a totally fair point, but having lived in LA for four years, I can’t imagine there’s a worse franchise in all of sports than the Clippers. I can honestly say that I have never seen a clipper fan in the wild before. I went to a Clippers/Blazers playoff game before and in between timeouts they were shooting off shirts and dropping gift cards form the rafters in parachutes. I’ve gone to a couple Celtics playoff games before, and I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing; it really damaged how I view LA sports in general.

Kawhi could win a championship here, and I don’t think anyone would actually care.

LA fans are definitely more prone to bandwagoning and being fair-weather. Nothing compared to a fanbase like Toronto. That being said, there ARE a very loyal contingent of Clippers fans who have been there through thick and thin. Even in the worst years the Clippers were at least somewhat filling up the arena. Never had Detroit or Atlanta type situations where the arena looks mostly empty (at least in the 21 seasons I've been a fan). I think it was Forbes who a few years back ranked the Clippers as the most loyal fanbase. It was based on the consistency of fans support even in the lowest of lows. The Warriors were there too before the bandwagon from the dynasty where even when terrible, fans showed up.

The Clippers have by FAR the biggest kids NBA program currently right now with 140,000 members. The community outreach under Ballmer has been incredible. Point being, the fan base is growing rapidly and that next generation will be adults in a decade. Things will turn around.

[mtcan]

BTW Raptors fans I have a question. Apparently the Clippers recruitment methods all year have been shady or desperate right? Yet why no mention of how Toronto celebs, athletes, millionaires etc are literally offering to GIVE Kawhi mansions, cars, stakes in their companies etc BEGGING him to stay and trying to buy him off? If anything, THAT is far more pathetic to me. It's great the city loves him so much, but they are acting more desperate than Cleveland ever did with Lebron.

If they thought Kawhi wanted to stay, why would they do that?

That is fans showing their love. The organization has nothing to do with this. How is that pathetic? Meanwhile having Laurence Frank stalking him at every stop just to show him that the Clippers are interested is just weird and creepy.

[OkcSinceSGA]

BTW Raptors fans I have a question. Apparently the Clippers recruitment methods all year have been shady or desperate right? Yet why no mention of how Toronto celebs, athletes, millionaires etc are literally offering to GIVE Kawhi mansions, cars, stakes in their companies etc BEGGING him to stay and trying to buy him off? If anything, THAT is far more pathetic to me. It's great the city loves him so much, but they are acting more desperate than Cleveland ever did with Lebron.

If they thought Kawhi wanted to stay, why would they do that?

That is fans showing their love. The organization has nothing to do with this. How is that pathetic? Meanwhile having Laurence Frank stalking him at every stop just to show him that the Clippers are interested is just weird and creepy.

I suppose we will see which method bothers Kawhi more lol. I can't wait for free agency. Kawhi or no Kawhi, at least we will know for sure what is gonna happen.

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using RealGM mobile app

[mtcan]

I think winning the Championship actually has increased the chances he goes to the Clippers.

1. He can't possibly be hated in Toronto. He brought them a Championship!
2. He already has two rings. He doesn't need to win another.
3. If he brings the Clippers a championship, then he will have brought 3 different teams Championships. None of which could have won without him. That drastically increases his legacy. Who else has won 3 rings AND 3 finals MVP's with 3 different teams? He's be the only superstar to accomplish this feat. EVER.

Plus the Clippers are a prime spot for him. They are a scrappy team and they play great team ball. They gave the Warriors (who were at full strength at that time) a run for their money. Now add Kawai and they become the favorites in the West.

Wow...this is one of the weirdest takes ever.

2. He already has two rings. He doesn't need to win another.

I guess Kawhi is ready to retire. He's clearly done everything he needs to do in this league. Time to sit back, collect them checks and hang out with the homies. But you are right...going to LA means he really doesn't need or want another ring. If Kawhi really is a loser like that, he doesn't deserve the big contract and no team ought to be vying for his services.

3. If he brings the Clippers a championship, then he will have brought 3 different teams Championships. None of which could have won without him. That drastically increases his legacy. Who else has won 3 rings AND 3 finals MVP's with 3 different teams? He's be the only superstar to accomplish this feat. EVER.

And then you go and contradict what you just stated above that he doesn't NEED to win another ring. But all the sudden he does? Really? He can also make history by bringing 2 championships to Canada!!!!! No other superstar can stake that claim. So if he wants to make history...just stay where he is.

Uh...I don't know what is the more prime spot for him to win a championship...like the one that JUST won a championship?

[OkcSinceSGA]

His long-term commitment to Toronto remains unclear. The city wasn’t one of Leonard’s preferred destinations when he asked out of San Antonio last season — Los Angeles reportedly topped his list — but less than 11 months after he arrived, he delivered Canada's signature basketball achievement.

“We all know where my destinations were,” Leonard said. “I said when I was there on my opening day meeting that I was focused on the now, and I wanted to make history here and that's all I did.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-kawhi-leonard-clippers-offseason-20190614-story.html

[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.

imagine winning multiple titles in a country with this many fans or helping the lakers little adopted brother.

It's crazy how so many Raptors fans turned sour as soon as they had a championship run. The Clippers and the Raptors were always cut from the same cloth, and yet here you are attacking them? Do you forget where your franchise came from?

[OkcSinceSGA]

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.

imagine winning multiple titles in a country with this many fans or helping the lakers little adopted brother.

It's crazy how so many Raptors fans turned sour as soon as they had a championship run. The Clippers and the Raptors were always cut from the same cloth, and yet here you are attacking them? Do you forget where your franchise came from?

The arrogance that took over a very fair, good fanbase on this forum is sad. I wonder if it's literally just 100 random troll fans of other teams who just want to burn the forum down. Up until this year, the Raptors fans were my favorite posters on this forum. Then they started all the trash talk, attacking other teams etc. I get the Kawhi situation kinda makes the teams at odds this season, but still didn't expect so much bitterness and drama from them.

[mtcan]

I kinda feel sorry for the lone Clipper fan in this thread. It might be an accurate reflection of the Clippers fan base in LA.

[OkcSinceSGA]

I kinda feel sorry for the lone Clipper fan in this thread. It might be an accurate reflection of the Clippers fan base in LA.

There are only a few regular posting Clippers fans on this forum. I'd much prefer that than an army of Raptors trolls shitposting the entire forum and disrupting every discussion.

[mtcan]

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.

imagine winning multiple titles in a country with this many fans or helping the lakers little adopted brother.

It's crazy how so many Raptors fans turned sour as soon as they had a championship run. The Clippers and the Raptors were always cut from the same cloth, and yet here you are attacking them? Do you forget where your franchise came from?

Cut out of the same cloth? You mean our previous owner was a cheapskate and racist? And we are forced to share the same stadium as the more famous storied franchise? And we have an arrogance about us because we reside in one of the two largest markets in North America and feel entitled to all the best talent because of it?

Nothing could be more different. Toronto has always been the underdog...and never expected to be a winner as a result of being in Canada...but the ONLY franchise in Canada...and the largest market in Canada no less...which is 4th largest in North America. We have misconceptions about taxes and weather to deal with.

[Nazrmohamed]

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on SportsCenter on Friday morning that Leonard, who can opt-out of his contract and become a free agent this offseason, is still leaning towards signing with the L.A. Clippers this summer and that the Raptors “still have a lot of work to do.”

“He came to Toronto, with the idea from San Antonio, this was a very fine one year way station and I’m sure exceeded his expectations how they managed him physically to be a Finals MVP again, to win a championship,” Wojnarowski said, as transcribed by Bleacher Report.

“But there was always the risk of him going back west. The L.A. Clippers are at the very top of that list, and I think the Raptors still have work to do between now and June 30 and the start of free agency to keep Kawhi Leonard in Toronto.”


https://thebiglead.com/2019/06/14/woj-raptors-still-have-a-lot-of-work-to-do-to-keep-kawhi-leonard/

Just like they said Paul George was leaving OKC last year, they are wrong here too. Kawhi has absolutely no reason to leave a team he just won a championship for franchise like clippers. Kawhi is most certainly staying in Toronto to go for repeat ..

Its Canada and hes got choices.

[mtcan]

I kinda feel sorry for the lone Clipper fan in this thread. It might be an accurate reflection of the Clippers fan base in LA.

There are only a few regular posting Clippers fans on this forum. I'd much prefer that than an army of Raptors trolls shitposting the entire forum and disrupting every discussion.

We are legion.

We are a rabbid and enthusiastic fanbase.