Kawhi Leonard

[atlantabbq99]

We haven't been talking about the Kawhi drama on the Hawks board, but what looked like the next franchise player for the Spurs has about a 10% chance of moving out of San Antonio.

With that 10% chance, Atlanta only has maybe about a 1% chance to get Kawhi, but 1% is still better than majority of the teams in the NBA.

The Budz connection is strong, and the chance of getting Ayton would also help alot.

Alot of people on this board didn't feel like Kawhi was worth a max contract a few years ago, but he has proven those people wrong.

I would trade anybody or anything for Kawhi except for the Hawks' 2018 pick.

Should the Hawks and Budz make a strong push for Kawhi, if he is ever on the market?

[kg01]

I'm curious who thought Leonard wasn't worth a max. Only thing that would give me pause is the injury but IIUC it's not something that should hamper him going forward.

A month or so ago, when the Kawhii stuff started coming out, my guy Frank Isola spelled out that Leonard's new "agent" (aka his uncle) is a longtime NY-area guy and that there are ties between Leonard and Sean Marks (just like the Budz/Spurs connection).

In addition, it's smelling like Leonard/his uncle want the "big market" spotlight. Those factors seems to suggest that BKN could be a place they're eyeing as a potential landing spot.

For the Hawks to grab him, to me, it'd have to be a situation where we overpay via trade but without the assurance that he'd actually re-sign with us. I've suggested a package of the '18 pick/Prince/+whatever for him at the upcoming draft. That's a heavy package considering he could opt-out after next season.

Would that be worth the gamble? I'd do it if the '18 pick is MIN or HOU's pick but I imagine SAS would get better offers than that.

Long story short, I think our only chance is if he (a) forces a trade and (b) we're willing to overpay despite no assurance of him re-signing aka JoeJohnsonTrade 2.0

[Spud2nique]

Why are you guys talking about Bird’s x boy?
I doubt he leaves the Spurs. I would be really surprised to see Kawhi play for anyone else besides the Spurs for his entire career. Just a hunch.

Don’t get me wrong though he’s always been a fav non Hawk of mine for sure.

[macd-gm]

Why are you guys talking about Bird’s x boy?
I doubt he leaves the Spurs. I would be really surprised to see Kawhi play for anyone else besides the Spurs for his entire career. Just a hunch.

Don’t get me wrong though he’s always been a fav non Hawk of mine for sure.

I agree but I will say that from an overall brand, marketing, and income generation point of view, being in San Antonio is a bit of a negative. If Kawhi was in LA, Chicago, or NY he'd be making a ton more money outside of basketball. I mean he's a top 5 player in the this league but all you hear about is Lebron, Curry, Durant.

[Jamaaliver]

Why are you guys talking about Bird’s x boy?
I doubt he leaves the Spurs. I would be really surprised to see Kawhi play for anyone else besides the Spurs for his entire career. Just a hunch.

Don’t get me wrong though he’s always been a fav non Hawk of mine for sure.

I agree but I will say that from an overall brand, marketing, and income generation point of view, being in San Antonio is a bit of a negative. If Kawhi was in LA, Chicago, or NY he'd be making a ton more money outside of basketball. I mean he's a top 5 player in the this league but all you hear about is Lebron, Curry, Durant.

1. Completely agree.

2. Kawhi, personality wise, seems like he's better served as a big fish in a modest sized bowl.

The dude doesn't talk.

[jayu70]

As much as a fan of Kawhi as I am, yhe price woukd be too rich for the Hawks unlesz he's willing to extend his contract.

[jayu70]

I'm curious who thought Leonard wasn't worth a max. Only thing that would give me pause is the injury but IIUC it's not something that should hamper him going forward.

A month or so ago, when the Kawhii stuff started coming out, my guy Frank Isola spelled out that Leonard's new "agent" (aka his uncle) is a longtime NY-area guy and that there are ties between Leonard and Sean Marks (just like the Budz/Spurs connection).

In addition, it's smelling like Leonard/his uncle want the "big market" spotlight. Those factors seems to suggest that BKN could be a place they're eyeing as a potential landing spot.

For the Hawks to grab him, to me, it'd have to be a situation where we overpay via trade but without the assurance that he'd actually re-sign with us. I've suggested a package of the '18 pick/Prince/+whatever for him at the upcoming draft. That's a heavy package considering he could opt-out after next season.

Would that be worth the gamble? I'd do it if the '18 pick is MIN or HOU's pick but I imagine SAS would get better offers than that.

Long story short, I think our only chance is if he (a) forces a trade and (b) we're willing to overpay despite no assurance of him re-signing aka JoeJohnsonTrade 2.0

Joe to Hawks was a SnT from Phoenix so I had no issue giving up picks.

Too much too give up for 1 guaranteed year.
How do we build around him in that year to convince him to resign? Top FAs still aren't coming here.

[MaceCase]

Why are you guys talking about Bird’s x boy?
I doubt he leaves the Spurs. I would be really surprised to see Kawhi play for anyone else besides the Spurs for his entire career. Just a hunch.

Don’t get me wrong though he’s always been a fav non Hawk of mine for sure.

I agree but I will say that from an overall brand, marketing, and income generation point of view, being in San Antonio is a bit of a negative. If Kawhi was in LA, Chicago, or NY he'd be making a ton more money outside of basketball. I mean he's a top 5 player in the this league but all you hear about is Lebron, Curry, Durant.

Lack of charisma. You actually have to sell a company's product, they aren't just dumping money in your lap. He's a top 10 jersey seller though but he's beat out by guys in even smaller markets such as Giannis and Russy. Bron, Dwight, KD, Kyrie, Love, etc. have all dominated the scene from small markets too. Maybe he's rounding out into more of his self but is having trouble shaking the previous well established perception that he's on the spectrum.

[macd-gm]

Why are you guys talking about Bird’s x boy?
I doubt he leaves the Spurs. I would be really surprised to see Kawhi play for anyone else besides the Spurs for his entire career. Just a hunch.

Don’t get me wrong though he’s always been a fav non Hawk of mine for sure.

I agree but I will say that from an overall brand, marketing, and income generation point of view, being in San Antonio is a bit of a negative. If Kawhi was in LA, Chicago, or NY he'd be making a ton more money outside of basketball. I mean he's a top 5 player in the this league but all you hear about is Lebron, Curry, Durant.

Lack of charisma. You actually have to sell a company's product, they aren't just dumping money in your lap. He's a top 10 jersey seller though but he's beat out by guys in even smaller markets such as Giannis and Russy. Bron, Dwight, KD, Kyrie, Love, etc. have all dominated the scene from small markets too. Maybe he's rounding out into more of his self but is having trouble shaking the previous well established perception that he's on the spectrum.

I agree that Kawhi's personality doesn't help but if Derrick Rose can get big money endorsements then anyone should be able to.

[MaceCase]

I agree but I will say that from an overall brand, marketing, and income generation point of view, being in San Antonio is a bit of a negative. If Kawhi was in LA, Chicago, or NY he'd be making a ton more money outside of basketball. I mean he's a top 5 player in the this league but all you hear about is Lebron, Curry, Durant.

Lack of charisma. You actually have to sell a company's product, they aren't just dumping money in your lap. He's a top 10 jersey seller though but he's beat out by guys in even smaller markets such as Giannis and Russy. Bron, Dwight, KD, Kyrie, Love, etc. have all dominated the scene from small markets too. Maybe he's rounding out into more of his self but is having trouble shaking the previous well established perception that he's on the spectrum.

I agree that Kawhi's personality doesn't help but if Derrick Rose can get big money endorsements then anyone should be able to.

Lol. Well Rose has probably gotten a few execs fired. He’s living off a deal he signed almost 10 years ago when he had all the hype in his favor, #1 pick, youngest MVP, hometown kid, etc. Also the timing of his deal helped. Adidas was in shambles, their top athletes KG had left, Duncan is Duncan, T-Mac and Arenas had broken down. Dwight and Rose basically kept the lights on for them in the basketball division at the time and Dwight was on his way down. Surprisingly, Rose’s “humbleness” did extremely well for him in the Chinese market, as the claim is they culturally identify more with that.

[kg01]

Leonard is unlikely (at best). The real discussion might be on Wiggins who's allegedly unhappy playing 3rd fiddle to Buttler and Towns.

I've never been overly critical of Wiggins and his middling development as I put that more on Thibs than on the guy. But he's clearly got some deficiencies and he's making a lotta money. Whew, that's a big contrack. Man, I'm getting dizzy thinking about it.

Thoughts? Whew, I gotta go sit down.

[jayu70]

Leonard is unlikely (at best). The real discussion might be on Wiggins who's allegedly unhappy playing 3rd fiddle to Buttler and Towns.

I've never been overly critical of Wiggins and his middling development as I put that more on Thibs than on the guy. But he's clearly got some deficiencies and he's making a lotta money. Whew, that's a big contrack. Man, I'm getting dizzy thinking about it.

Thoughts? Whew, I gotta go sit down.

Check the hawks trade thread above.

[kg01]

Leonard is unlikely (at best). The real discussion might be on Wiggins who's allegedly unhappy playing 3rd fiddle to Buttler and Towns.

I've never been overly critical of Wiggins and his middling development as I put that more on Thibs than on the guy. But he's clearly got some deficiencies and he's making a lotta money. Whew, that's a big contrack. Man, I'm getting dizzy thinking about it.

Thoughts? Whew, I gotta go sit down.

Check the hawks trade thread above.

Well, maybe y'all should be talking Kawhii in the trade thread. (Kidding, I found it. )

[xccelerate]

Lesson from Tiago trade is to not trust the Spurs if they're trading someone away.

[atlantabbq99]

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