The Board Man Cometh!! Kawhi Leonard Signs 3 Year (2+1), $103 Million Deal

[Quake Griffin]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

You don’t think Durant and Kawhi = instant championship contenders? It weakens one contender and pushes us somewhere near the top. It has to.

Either way, the prospect of Magic Johnsoning ourselves (and I’ve been harsh on Magic but we’ve been vocal about our interests too)out for Free Agency only to find out that it isn’t going to make us instant contenders is terrifying.

Hopefully we stay malleable in terms of ways to get better.
But it never dawned on me that Kawhi n Durant was anything other than an instant finals run...minimum.

[QRich3]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

You don’t think Durant and Kawhi = instant championship contenders? It weakens one contender and pushes us somewhere near the top. It has to.

Either way, the prospect of Magic Johnsoning ourselves (and I’ve been harsh on Magic but we’ve been vocal about our interests too)out for Free Agency only to find out that it isn’t going to make us instant contenders is terrifying.

Hopefully we stay malleable in terms of ways to get better.
But it never dawned on me that Kawhi n Durant was anything other than an instant finals run...minimum.

I don't, mainly because it requires pretty much emptying the roster to open space for them. Either trade future assets to dump Gallo ahead of time, or trade Lou and Trez and be left with those guys + Shai and Landry. They're not good enough to elevate a team by themselves to be better than the Warriors without Durant, who would still be a juggernaut. And it'd take time to build a team around them, time they don't have.

Anyway, I think it's moot, the only reason I see Durant leaving the Warriors for, is to clean a bit of his image. And that doesn't work for him on the Clippers, it only works bringing the most popular franchise in the NBA from decades-long loser to contender. I think it's either the Warriors or the Knicks for him, coming here would only have him endlessly compared against Lebron for being in the same city, and he will never be compared favorably to Lebron, even if he wins more than him.

In my eyes, trying to turn into an instant contender will be a misguided option no matter who wants to come, we have to keep patiently building a long term sustainable team until the conditions to contend appear organically, and best case scenario, we're still many years away from that.

[TrueLAfan]

I don't, mainly because it requires pretty much emptying the roster to open space for them. Either trade future assets to dump Gallo ahead of time, or trade Lou and Trez and be left with those guys + Shai and Landry. They're not good enough to elevate a team by themselves to be better than the Warriors without Durant, who would still be a juggernaut. And it'd take time to build a team around them, time they don't have.

Anyway, I think it's moot, the only reason I see Durant leaving the Warriors for, is to clean a bit of his image. And that doesn't work for him on the Clippers, it only works bringing the most popular franchise in the NBA from decades-long loser to contender. I think it's either the Warriors or the Knicks for him, coming here would only have him endlessly compared against Lebron for being in the same city, and he will never be compared favorably to Lebron, even if he wins more than him.

In my eyes, trying to turn into an instant contender will be a misguided option no matter who wants to come, we have to keep patiently building a long term sustainable team until the conditions to contend appear organically, and best case scenario, we're still many years away from that.

I agree with this. It also seems like one of the things the front office is trying to do now is have a certain type of culture. The Lakers went the instant contender route—and ended up with players like Rondo, Beasley, Stephenson and McGee. McGee is playing twice as much as he would/should be on a good team. Rondo and Stephenson are better on paper (and in their own minds) than on the court at this point in their careers. Same with Beasley. That’s totally different from guys like Lou and Bev and even Gortat (add JaMychal Green too—he’s the Pat Bev of PFs). The Clipper player are hard working guys and that play with a chip on shoulder and overachieve. If you’re a FA, you like a team that has players like that. It’s why I think we released Beasley without him ever stepping on the court in a Clipper uni.

Going forward with that sustainable winner idea--I also think it’s possible/likely that we’ll resign and/or hold onto Bev and Zubac and maybe, depending on how he plays, Green. (Green is only 28 and has started nearly 150 games and averaged about 10 and 7.5 in 27.5 minutes along with a being a decent defender with some range.) Those guys are solid rotation players. Add in Lou’s great 6th man play and the youth of SGA and Rome and Trezz and Shamet, and we’ve got something really interesting—a good core group with starters and some rotation players that plays hard, are good teammates and are cheap. You’ll get 60-70% of your team minutes from those guys for around $33-35 million. We’re still guard heavy—I really think we’ll see some sort of move to lose a couple of guards--Rome or Shamet, along with Thornwell and/or Wallace. A package of three guys like that with the Philly pick could net us a good player or future picks.

But the rest of the core group can and should be thought of as part of a long term, sustainable winner. I don’t want to lose a lot of those guys; I think a lot of FAs want players like that on the court as well in the locker room.

[QRich3]

I agree with this. It also seems like one of the things the front office is trying to do now is have a certain type of culture. The Lakers went the instant contender route—and ended up with players like Rondo, Beasley, Stephenson and McGee. McGee is playing twice as much as he would/should be on a good team. Rondo and Stephenson are better on paper (and ion their own minds) than on the court at this point in their careers. Same with Beasley. That’s totally different from guys like Lou and Bev and even Gortat (add JaMychal Green too—he’s the Pat Bev of PFs). The Clipper player are hard working guys and that play with a chip on shoulder and overachieve. If you’re a FA, you like a team that has players like that. It’s why I think we released Beasley without him ever stepping on the court in a Clipper uni.

Going forward with that sustainable winner idea--I also think it’s possible/likely that we’ll resign and/or hold onto Bev and Zubac and maybe, depending on how he plays, Green. (Green is only 28 and has started nearly 150 games and averaged about 10 and 7.5 in 27.5 minutes along with a being a decent defender with some range.) Those guys are solid rotation players. Add in Lou’s great 6th man play and the youth of SGA and Rome and Trezz and Shamet, and we’ve got something really interesting—a good core group with starters and some rotation players that plays hard, are good teammates and are cheap. You’ll get 60-70% of your team minutes from those guys for around $33-35 million. We’re still guard heavy—I really think we’ll see some sort of move to lose a couple of guards--Rome or Shamet, along with Thornwell and/or Wallace. A package of three guys like that with the Philly pick could net us a good player or future picks.

But the rest of the core group can and should be thought of as part of a long term, sustainable winner. I don’t want to lose a lot of those guy; I think a lot of FAs want players like that on the court as well in the locker room.

Exactly, and that's my main problem with adding two max free agents now, you have to let all of those guys go, and they're an integral part of what success around two stars would look like. Shout out to Garrett Temple, who's a great role player too.

The thing would be, if you keep this same mentality for a few years, cycling through guys like that, you keep adding future picks to add cost controllable pieces in the future, etc. at some point you're gonna find yourself in the situation of being able to add one of those generational pieces while keeping a team around him/them. If you try to rush it now with Kawhi and Durant, you have nothing around them, and you have to go the Lakers route of adding bad pieces around them and be left with a not great team.

[Galloisdaman]

KD is great but moving from Steph to AD and KL would not help him be his own man at all. He would be trading up to a even bigger superteam.

--Although LeBron joined up with Dwyane Wade, the Heat's championship was deep in the rear-view mirror, back in '06. He joined a 47-win club. That edition of the Heat was LeBron's team, not Wade's.

--And the Cavs were a 33-win team when Bron rejoined them and took that skeleton of a team to a title.

--Steph--and the Dubs--had already won a ring when KD joined up with them--a team that had just set the record with 73 wins. Not his team, never will be. And I'm with Stephen A that it was one of the weakest moves in sports history. I bet that still stings.


Joining KL here with a clean slate would not be like his jump to GSW, and KD would be the #1 here--KL would be the #1a. Or AD would be, both in talent and the fact that he's never won squat on his own. [And in my opinion, KL may have been MVP, but the Spurs were Tim Duncan's team. Period.]

He's gonna need some help to get anywhere and will have to share some of the glory, but the Clippers would be KD's team, at least more than anyone else's.

I think if KD and AD both came at the same time it would be looked at as both their teams equally (or pretty close).
It just does not make sense to me but only time will tell. I actually think as good as KD is that AD might be the best get for the Clippers if possible (and he doesn't act like a diva)

Lebron was huge for the Cavs but was a team with 2 other all star players really a skeleton team? Kyrie Irving and Love were pretty good players.

[esqtvd]

Lebron was huge for the Cavs but was a team with 2 other all star players really a skeleton team? Kyrie Irving and Love were pretty good players.

Love is nice, but I don't rate him. An empty suit, hollow stats. [The same question arises about AD and how much his stats equate to winning.]

Kyrie is of course a top scorer but OTOH Bron dragged the Cavs to the Finals the next year without him, throwing into shade just how much Kyrie was really responsible for the ring they won together.

[esqtvd]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

OK but let's not equate the two. Kawhi may be one of the best 50 players of all time, but Durant will be considered one of the 10 greatest, and maybe top 5 depending on what he does from here.

Kawhi's having a career season at 27 ppg, but it's only his 2nd year > 25 ppg. KD is only 2 years older and he has 11. KD is indisputably in the top 3 in the league right now; Kawhi may be #4 but many have him behind Harden, AD, and the Freak.

Considering they'll both make the same money [the max], and KD is the one who can carry a team further in the playoffs singlehandedly--and is more personable--choosing KL over KD is a matter of personal aesthetics, not basketball.

[Quake Griffin]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

You don’t think Durant and Kawhi = instant championship contenders? It weakens one contender and pushes us somewhere near the top. It has to.

Either way, the prospect of Magic Johnsoning ourselves (and I’ve been harsh on Magic but we’ve been vocal about our interests too)out for Free Agency only to find out that it isn’t going to make us instant contenders is terrifying.

Hopefully we stay malleable in terms of ways to get better.
But it never dawned on me that Kawhi n Durant was anything other than an instant finals run...minimum.

I don't, mainly because it requires pretty much emptying the roster to open space for them. Either trade future assets to dump Gallo ahead of time, or trade Lou and Trez and be left with those guys + Shai and Landry. They're not good enough to elevate a team by themselves to be better than the Warriors without Durant, who would still be a juggernaut. And it'd take time to build a team around them, time they don't have.

Anyway, I think it's moot, the only reason I see Durant leaving the Warriors for, is to clean a bit of his image. And that doesn't work for him on the Clippers, it only works bringing the most popular franchise in the NBA from decades-long loser to contender. I think it's either the Warriors or the Knicks for him, coming here would only have him endlessly compared against Lebron for being in the same city, and he will never be compared favorably to Lebron, even if he wins more than him.

In my eyes, trying to turn into an instant contender will be a misguided option no matter who wants to come, we have to keep patiently building a long term sustainable team until the conditions to contend appear organically, and best case scenario, we're still many years away from that.

One more....

Does this mean you are out on guys like Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton? They make no sense signing them by themselves and they present the same issue if you pair them with KD or Kawhi.

They're going to be looking for top dollar and they clearly are a step below KD and KL.

Imagine if we did all this for Kemba Walker.
smfh.

[esqtvd]

One more....

Does this mean you are out on guys like Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton? They make no sense signing them by themselves and they present the same issue if you pair them with KD or Kawhi.

They're going to be looking for top dollar and they clearly are a step below KD and KL.

Imagine if we did all this for Kemba Walker.
smfh.

Logical. And it points back at the original problem with Tobias. Very good but not great, but still seeking 80%+ of the max if not the max.

There is not an infinity of options once you get to the specifics. Even if we could get both KD and KL, that means dumping key culture guys like Lou and even the affordable Pat Bev.

And if you can only get one, pairing him with another max or near-max guy like one of these--say a Kemba--



leaves you pretty much in the same pickle.



Very informative group discussion.

[QRich3]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

OK but let's not equate the two. Kawhi may be one of the best 50 players of all time, but Durant will be considered one of the 10 greatest, and maybe top 5 depending on what he does from here.

Kawhi's having a career season at 27 ppg, but it's only his 2nd year > 25 ppg. KD is only 2 years older and he has 11. KD is indisputably in the top 3 in the league right now; Kawhi may be #4 but many have him behind Harden, AD, and the Freak.

Considering they'll both make the same money [the max], and KD is the one who can carry a team further in the playoffs singlehandedly--and is more personable--choosing KL over KD is a matter of personal aesthetics, not basketball.

Yeah that's why I started with "I don't even care how much it improves out team". I think I already said it upthread, but Leonard seems like he'd be cool coming to a team that's gonna take a while to develop and we'd be able to afford to keep building the right way and not rush things. If Durant comes, it'd be all about his legacy and rushing to get results as soon as. There's more to roster building than what player will give you more wins right now.

You don’t think Durant and Kawhi = instant championship contenders? It weakens one contender and pushes us somewhere near the top. It has to.

Either way, the prospect of Magic Johnsoning ourselves (and I’ve been harsh on Magic but we’ve been vocal about our interests too)out for Free Agency only to find out that it isn’t going to make us instant contenders is terrifying.

Hopefully we stay malleable in terms of ways to get better.
But it never dawned on me that Kawhi n Durant was anything other than an instant finals run...minimum.

I don't, mainly because it requires pretty much emptying the roster to open space for them. Either trade future assets to dump Gallo ahead of time, or trade Lou and Trez and be left with those guys + Shai and Landry. They're not good enough to elevate a team by themselves to be better than the Warriors without Durant, who would still be a juggernaut. And it'd take time to build a team around them, time they don't have.

Anyway, I think it's moot, the only reason I see Durant leaving the Warriors for, is to clean a bit of his image. And that doesn't work for him on the Clippers, it only works bringing the most popular franchise in the NBA from decades-long loser to contender. I think it's either the Warriors or the Knicks for him, coming here would only have him endlessly compared against Lebron for being in the same city, and he will never be compared favorably to Lebron, even if he wins more than him.

In my eyes, trying to turn into an instant contender will be a misguided option no matter who wants to come, we have to keep patiently building a long term sustainable team until the conditions to contend appear organically, and best case scenario, we're still many years away from that.

One more....

Does this mean you are out on guys like Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton? They make no sense signing them by themselves and they present the same issue if you pair them with KD or Kawhi.

They're going to be looking for top dollar and they clearly are a step below KD and KL.

Imagine if we did all this for Kemba Walker.
smfh.

Middleton yeah, he's gonna get an ugly contract. Similarly to Tobias, I don't want to pay him what he's gonna make unless it was to add him to an already established contender, and the only nuisance of paying him was tax money. Sort of like the 76ers are trying to do.

Klay, no way he's gonna move from Oakland, but if he was to, I'd get him only if he was cool with being a piece on a team that's getting built and will take years to get there. The same way I want Leonard, the same reason I don't want Durant.

[esqtvd]

Ugh I don't even care how much it improves out team or whatever, I'd have a really hard time having to root for Durant.

Anyway, regardless of personal preferences, neither guy is gonna put us over the hump, even getting both Leonard and Durant we'd only be outside contenders. The way I see it, if we only get Kawhi, we can still be a team that prioritises development and long term building, just with a great piece to build around meanwhile. If we get Durant, there'll probably be more pressure to turn his legacy around and whatnot, which means more pressure to trade future picks for win now pieces, and likely still falling short.

I'm ok with adding Leonard, but let Durant go to NY to try to clean his reputation. Not here.

OK but let's not equate the two. Kawhi may be one of the best 50 players of all time, but Durant will be considered one of the 10 greatest, and maybe top 5 depending on what he does from here.

Kawhi's having a career season at 27 ppg, but it's only his 2nd year > 25 ppg. KD is only 2 years older and he has 11. KD is indisputably in the top 3 in the league right now; Kawhi may be #4 but many have him behind Harden, AD, and the Freak.

Considering they'll both make the same money [the max], and KD is the one who can carry a team further in the playoffs singlehandedly--and is more personable--choosing KL over KD is a matter of personal aesthetics, not basketball.

Yeah that's why I started with "I don't even care how much it improves out team". I think I already said it upthread, but Leonard seems like he'd be cool coming to a team that's gonna take a while to develop and we'd be able to afford to keep building the right way and not rush things. If Durant comes, it'd be all about his legacy and rushing to get results as soon as. There's more to roster building than what player will give you more wins right now.

I don't, mainly because it requires pretty much emptying the roster to open space for them. Either trade future assets to dump Gallo ahead of time, or trade Lou and Trez and be left with those guys + Shai and Landry. They're not good enough to elevate a team by themselves to be better than the Warriors without Durant, who would still be a juggernaut. And it'd take time to build a team around them, time they don't have.

Anyway, I think it's moot, the only reason I see Durant leaving the Warriors for, is to clean a bit of his image. And that doesn't work for him on the Clippers, it only works bringing the most popular franchise in the NBA from decades-long loser to contender. I think it's either the Warriors or the Knicks for him, coming here would only have him endlessly compared against Lebron for being in the same city, and he will never be compared favorably to Lebron, even if he wins more than him.

In my eyes, trying to turn into an instant contender will be a misguided option no matter who wants to come, we have to keep patiently building a long term sustainable team until the conditions to contend appear organically, and best case scenario, we're still many years away from that.

One more....

Does this mean you are out on guys like Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton? They make no sense signing them by themselves and they present the same issue if you pair them with KD or Kawhi.

They're going to be looking for top dollar and they clearly are a step below KD and KL.

Imagine if we did all this for Kemba Walker.
smfh.

Middleton yeah, he's gonna get an ugly contract. Similarly to Tobias, I don't want to pay him what he's gonna make unless it was to add him to an already established contender, and the only nuisance of paying him was tax money. Sort of like the 76ers are trying to do.

Klay, no way he's gonna move from Oakland, but if he was to, I'd get him only if he was cool with being a piece on a team that's getting built and will take years to get there. The same way I want Leonard, the same reason I don't want Durant.

Very nuanced. Respect.

I will take my chances maxxing KD and/or KL. Even both. And I'm cool with maxxing either, for reasons given.

And if KD wants to do something here with Kyrie, I'll roll that dice too.


The rest, meh. I'm willing to wait another year or 3. Let's keep winning games. Lou, Pat, Trezz, Shai, Landry. Maybe Zubac. Jerome.


I've waited this long. I can wait a little longer.

[esqtvd]

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-kawhi-leonard-doesn-t-000053140.html

Los Angeles has been a rumored landing spot for Toronto Raptors free agent Kawhi Leonard, although reports have said Leonard prefers the Clippers in the past. As the year has ground on up north, it seems the Lakers’ chances at signing Leonard have become increasingly dim.

Speaking on Brian Windhorst’s podcast, ESPN writer Michael C. Wright said he thought Leonard was not interested in the Lakers.

Via ESPN:

“I do not [think he’s interested in the Lakers]. That’s just what I’ve been told. It’s what I’ve been told going back to last summer. I don’t see that as something that’s happening. I think he goes to the Clippers.”

Toronto doesn’t look like the strongest team in the East, and an NBA Finals run was what most thought could keep him with the Raptors. If Leonard decides to change teams this summer, it seems like the rumor continues to be that he won’t be picking to join LeBron on the Lakers.

[Vae Victus]

Remember guys, if KD is hellbent on leaving GSW to burnish his legacy, there's totally a S&T KD for Gallo option on the table.

GSW is left with
1) Lose KD for nothing and leave a massive hole at SF/PF, thus significantly hurting their 2019-2020 chances
2) Get the best possible talent possible for 1 year from a team that KD is willing to be S&T too. Not a total replacement, but Gallo is a damn fine player who can help

Clippers could totally just stretch Gallo or trade him + minor asset for cap space or smaller deal(needs to be in he 8-9mil range coming back), and thus open up a 35% max slot to go get KD if necessary. Clippers have all the leverage if KD wants to team up with Kawhi.

If Kawhi signs outright, GSW S&Ts KD to LAC for Gallo straight up, that leaves the Clips (while holding onto Zubac's 1.9m RFA caphold) roughly 9.8m in remaining capspace. Along with the Room Exception of 4.8m. Get the best role player for 9.8m and 4.8m and then re-sign Zubac to a reasonable deal.

C - Zubac, Harrell
PF- KD, Green
SF- Kawhi, JRobinson
SG- Shamet, Lou Will
PG- SGA, Lin

I'd try to keep JaMychal Green and Patrick Beverly for continuity purposes. Which one gets 9.8m and 4.8m depends on their playoff performance. Odds are PatBev will price himself out as PG thirsty teams will steal him for more money or offer him a guaranteed starting role. Giving Green the entire 9.8m is a bit much, but if he does well in playoffs it'd be worthwhile. He's a mobile big body who can stroke it from 3, an ideal 4 to pair with Harrell off the bench. Or if a better ring chaser 3/4 type is available for 9.8m, then sign that guy, but i have a hard time seeing one obviously better than Green and willing to take that low amount of money.

With the room exception i'd target Jeremy Lin, a steady veteran who plays D and can help run the bench. Lin is big for a PG so he can guard most combo 2s these days, so is a good complement for Lou Will being undersized at the backup 2. Then fill out the bench with Tyrone Wallace, Thornwell, Motley, old ring chaser min vet types.

1-9 this is a DAMN GOOD roster (JRobinson is the lone weak point imo). With a very NICE blend of superstars, promising youth, and good lunch pail role players. LOTS of shooting 1-4. If the promising youth keeps progressing, then the sky truly is the limit with this team.

The West will become WIDE open if KD leaves GSW. Sure GSW will get Gallo to fill in KD's shoes, but quite frankly, the Clips are now PERFECTLY poised to counter them with youth, length, and shooting of their own. Clips bench will DEMOLISH other teams bench units and their starting unit aint shabby at all.

[QRich3]

KD's either going to New York or staying with the Warriors. The Clippers don't work for his legacy clean up, specially if he teams up with another all-NBA player. It'd just be seen as him artificially creating another super team in a big market, in the same city as Lebron, and even if he wins a lot more than Lebron or the Warriors, he'll still be compared unfavourably to them cause they are more popular and in teams with a much larger fanbase.

However, if he goes to NY, he goes to the team with largest fanbase in the league, which has been absolutely terrible for pretty much decades. It's the prefect fairy tale story if it goes well (which could totally not), that's the only way out I see for him unless they bring a team to Seattle.

[brianmc]

Clippers could work for Durant. Durant wants to be a big deal in venture capital. With the rights connections, he can go from small time investor to someone who creates venture funds into the hundreds of millions. Ballmer can get him or his surrogates to those people (sovereign wealth funds, public employee pension funds, Ultra high net worth individuals, insurance companies, charitable foundations, university endowments ).

Investing in start ups is the cool new thing.. but who will be the first NBA player to actually own a VC fund? Durant can be that guy with Ballmer's help and as long as they're careful, you can't prove Durant or his surrogates raised the cash simply because of Ballmer.

[madmaxmedia]

If we could have any single FA I’d have to go with KD. If we add him and roll with basically the rest of the current squad, we’re a title contender because that also means GSW obviously loses him. At that point I think I’d rather keep our current squad and culture, than blow things up to make room for 1 more lesser max FA. If we only got Kawhi, I’d be pretty stoked about that too, especially if KD goes to NYK.

I mean this team is really pretty talented right now, but just a bit too reliant on Lou Will for offense. But add KD or KL to what we got now? It would be so fun to watch, much more so than the Lob City teams.

[madmaxmedia]

Clippers could work for Durant. Durant wants to be a big deal in venture capital. With the rights connections, he can go from small time investor to someone who creates venture funds into the hundreds of millions. Ballmer can get him or his surrogates to those people (sovereign wealth funds, public employee pension funds, Ultra high net worth individuals, insurance companies, charitable foundations, university endowments ).

Investing in start ups is the cool new thing.. but who will be the first NBA player to actually own a VC fund? Durant can be that guy with Ballmer's help and as long as they're careful, you can't prove Durant or his surrogates raised the cash simply because of Ballmer.

That’s a really great point that I surprisingly hadn’t thought about before. If KD wants to pursue that then Clippers and Ballmer are a perfect fit. Not just connections, but a mentor and possibly partner (to whatever extent is allowed) as well.

[madmaxmedia]

KD's either going to New York or staying with the Warriors. The Clippers don't work for his legacy clean up, specially if he teams up with another all-NBA player. It'd just be seen as him artificially creating another super team in a big market, in the same city as Lebron, and even if he wins a lot more than Lebron or the Warriors, he'll still be compared unfavourably to them cause they are more popular and in teams with a much larger fanbase.

However, if he goes to NY, he goes to the team with largest fanbase in the league, which has been absolutely terrible for pretty much decades. It's the prefect fairy tale story if it goes well (which could totally not), that's the only way out I see for him unless they bring a team to Seattle.

What if he was the only big FA addition here though? Clippers will be better than the Lakers next year, and he can lead a squad that can possibly knock off GSW IMO. That and the off court business stuff could make for a pretty good scenario IMO.

I hadn’t ever seriously considered KD as a target, but I think it’s not out of the question.

[esqtvd]

Remember guys, if KD is hellbent on leaving GSW to burnish his legacy, there's totally a S&T KD for Gallo option on the table.

GSW is left with
1) Lose KD for nothing and leave a massive hole at SF/PF, thus significantly hurting their 2019-2020 chances
2) Get the best possible talent possible for 1 year from a team that KD is willing to be S&T too. Not a total replacement, but Gallo is a damn fine player who can help

Dunno about the rest of the OP, VV, but this part sure works. GSW could do worse than get Gallo instead of nothing if KD leaves.

Esp if Draymond bails too. I don't know if this part is true, but I suspect Steve Kerr's a dick regardless.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/252920/Steve-Kerr-Lip-Readers-Were-Wrong-On-Draymond-Green-Comment

[madmaxmedia]

My ideal plan is to sign KL or KD, re-sign Zubac and Beverly (and other guys if we have cap space), and make 1 or 2 ‘sneaky’ signings or trades to round out the team. By sneaky I mean what guys like Julius Randle and Brook Lopez got this season- low radar but high ROI.