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

[Ranma]

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[Galloisdaman]

Saw a interesting proposal online. If KL decides he wants to be a Clipper and Clippers would like to keep cap room.

KL in a sign and trade for Gallo, Trez, and Jerome.

That makes no sense. We could sign him outright and only have to give up a first-round pick, if needed, in order to dump Gallo to sign a 2nd max player. Trez and Rome are worth more than a future first-round pick to the Clips. Plus, I'd even argue that we should be able to get rid of Gallo without giving up a first-rounder depending on the urgency of the situation.

Can KL get more in a sign and trade? I think that may be what they were thinking.

[Ranma]

Can KL get more in a sign and trade? I think that may be what they were thinking.

No, not unless he wants to get traded to another team that his capped out. I've heard that the current collective bargaining agreement has reduced the benefits of sign-and-trade deals.

Luke Adams, HoopsRumors.com (5/8/17)

1. Players can only get true maximum salary contracts if they remain with their previous team.

Under the old CBA, a sign-and-trade deal allowed a player to sign for the true max – in terms of total years and annual raises – even though he wasn’t remaining with his previous team. That’s no longer the case.

If, for instance, the Raptors were to sign-and-trade Lowry to another club, he wouldn’t be able to receive the five years or 8% annual raises that he would if he re-signed with Toronto — he’d still be eligible for the same starting salary, but would be limited to four years and 5% raises, reducing the overall value of his max contract by about $50MM.

Why NBA Sign-And-Trades Are Rare

[Quake Griffin]

Saw a interesting proposal online. If KL decides he wants to be a Clipper and Clippers would like to keep cap room.

KL in a sign and trade for Gallo, Trez, and Jerome.

Why would we give up Rome and Trezzy?

Particularly Trezzy.
Our energy/culture bench player that is appparently attracting Kawhi here.

[Galloisdaman]

Can KL get more in a sign and trade? I think that may be what they were thinking.

No, not unless he wants to get traded to another team that his capped out. I've heard that the current collective bargaining agreement has reduced the benefits of sign-and-trade deals.

Luke Adams, HoopsRumors.com (5/8/17)

1. Players can only get true maximum salary contracts if they remain with their previous team.

Under the old CBA, a sign-and-trade deal allowed a player to sign for the true max – in terms of total years and annual raises – even though he wasn’t remaining with his previous team. That’s no longer the case.

If, for instance, the Raptors were to sign-and-trade Lowry to another club, he wouldn’t be able to receive the five years or 8% annual raises that he would if he re-signed with Toronto — he’d still be eligible for the same starting salary, but would be limited to four years and 5% raises, reducing the overall value of his max contract by about $50MM.

Why NBA Sign-And-Trades Are Rare

Would that sign and trade still be more money than KL could get as a UFA even if not a full super max?

Will KL get the extra year and more money if he stays in Toronto?

[Ranma]

Would that sign and trade still be more money than KL could get as a UFA even if not a full super max?

Will KL get the extra year and more money if he stays in Toronto?

I apologize for the wording of my previous response, which has led to this confusion. When I said "more" with regards to being traded to a capped-out team, I meant more than what that team he would hypothetically be dead set on joining would be able to offer as a team with limited or without cap space.

To answer your question, the most money Kawhi can receive is if he were to re-sign with the Raptors for their 5-year max offer. Otherwise, the most he can get would be a 4-year max offer from the Clippers or any other team that can create the salary-cap space to accommodate such a signing. While the 5-year offer is technically more money given that 5th year, the AAV is less than $3 million between the two deals, so Kawhi wouldn't be losing that much if he took a 4-year offer assuming he's healthy and productive enough to get another big-money deal on his next contract. Had he stayed in San Antonio, Kawhi would have been eligible for the supermax, which only the Spurs could have offered had they not traded him away.

Also, as the cited HoopsRumors.com article pointed out, Kawhi cannot get more money than the aforementioned 4-year max offer through a sign-and-trade deal given that the current CBA did away with the ability to offer the 5-year max offer through such a transaction.

[Cobra Kawhi]

While I've acknowledged that Kawhi could stay with Toronto, I still think the Clippers are the likeliest landing spot for him whether the Raptors win the championship or not. I'm so confident that I've been rooting for the Raptors to win the Larry O' Brien trophy even as I realize an increased likelihood of him staying if they do so.

Toronto is only in this position because of him as most of their players have a penchant for disappearing for long stretches. His teammates have only done just enough to beat a depleted Warriors team. I've seen it reported that Kawhi thinks he can win regardless given the great belief he has in himself but he's got to realize that the Raptors aren't the best situation for him given that he's experienced it first-hand.

Also, if and when he wins another championship and accompanying Finals MVP, he'll have the opportunity to do so with a third team in the Clippers since only two other players have won NBA championships with three different teams: Robert Horry and John Salley. Carrying 3 different teams to NBA titles would cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time and it's within realistic reach given how well positioned the Clippers are.

I'm so glad our front office isn't as bipolar or Chicken Little as some of us have been during these playoffs.

How do you know the clips are the likeliest landing spot? What evidence suggests he's leaving? You know other than your underlying desire.
Raptors have the edge for a variety of reasons
1. Medical aspect is a huge factor. Alex McKechnie revitalized his health and stamina. He's now in the NBA finals after playing 9 games the year before. LA would not be as understanding or careful with his load management. Health is everything. With our training staff and load management, he can prolong his career in the NBA.
2. We can we offer the most money. He loses like 40 million if he leaves. For a guy who has a degenerative leg issue that needs continuous treatment, you want to make sure you get paid.
3. Backed by an entire country versus only a city like LA that has 2 basketball teams, neither of which are appealing.
4. Winning culture, about to win 2019 chip. Could win more. 5. Chemistry he's already built here with the players and city. Also his girlfriend had a child in Toronto and he bought a house.
Yea, gee I wonder why oddsharks has us as the favorites to sign him. Why do you think the Clippers have been tampering all year, and now trying to buy his logo. They know he's leaning towards re-signing. Signs of desperation on their part. Sorry to burst your bubble. Maybe ya'll can get Jimmy Butler or something.

[Ranma]

How do you know the clips are the likeliest landing spot? What evidence suggests he's leaving? You know other than your underlying desire.
Raptors have the edge for a variety of reasons
1. Medical aspect is a huge factor. Alex McKechnie revitalized his health and stamina. He's now in the NBA finals after playing 9 games the year before. LA would not be as understanding or careful with his load management. Health is everything. With our training staff and load management, he can prolong his career in the NBA.
2. We can we offer the most money. He loses like 40 million if he leaves. For a guy who has a degenerative leg issue that needs continuous treatment, you want to make sure you get paid.
3. Backed by an entire country versus only a city like LA that has 2 basketball teams, neither of which are appealing.
4. Winning culture, about to win 2019 chip. Could win more. 5. Chemistry he's already built here with the players and city. Also his girlfriend had a child in Toronto and he bought a house.
Yea, gee I wonder why oddsharks has us as the favorites to sign him. Why do you think the Clippers have been tampering all year, and now trying to buy his logo. They know he's leaning towards re-signing. Signs of desperation on their part. Sorry to burst your bubble. Maybe ya'll can get Jimmy Butler or something.

Why don't you read the thread before asking such questions? As I've already laid out my thoughts on the matter and such support for my assertion is also available throughout this very extended thread. I'll quickly address your questions, nonetheless, since I have to get going.

1) Yes, the Raptors have done a wonderful job with his load management and I'll even concede that your medical and training staff is probably better than ours since I've been critical about our organization not bringing in notable members to our personnel. However, it would be a mistake on your part to think that Steve Ballmer would not do everything within his power to accommodate Kawhi Leonard as a free agent since he's made it his mission to go first-class in everything we do--or logo design notwithstanding. We're no longer owned by Donald Sterling.

2) Yes, you can technically offer the most money and, as I've pointed out numerous times, the AAV between the two offers is only less than $3 million. You think that would matter to a guy who has wanted to return home and left much more money in a supermax offer by demanding a trade out of San Antonio? Not to mention that the marketing and business opportunities are more abundant in Los Angeles by aligning himself with the richest owner in North American sports than the entire country of Canada.

3) As I've pointed out, there are more opportunities in Los Angeles than the entire country of Canada. It also seems like you've been out of the loop since the Clippers are widely recognized as the destination organization in free agency.

4) He bought "property", which is not necessarily a house or home in Toronto. Look up the word in the dictionary. His family and his baby mama's family currently reside in Southern California and he bought his mother an actual house for his mother down here. You think it was just a coincidence that he demanded a trade to the Clippers earlier?

Yeah, I'm impressed that a single online betting entity has the Raptors as slight favorites now when the Clippers have been the odds-on favorite for most of the off-season. Also, you have no idea about what you're talking about. As I've already pointed out in the Sports Illustrated article, the Clippers only wanted to buy the licensing rights to the logo to put on presentation material in order to pitch to Kawhi in free agency; they backed off when there was a dispute in ownership and did not seek to actually buy the logo.

Keep puffing out your chest and boasting like a myopic tool, but the fact of the matter is, Kawhi himself has not indicated a desire to return to Toronto other than expressing his appreciation to Ujiri and his teammates for accommodating him. I've already presented that he can follow in his idol MJ's footsteps in leaving a team after winning a championship and making history by being the only player in to ever win titles with 3 different NBA teams while doing so with a team better positioned to win moving forward, which also happens to be closer to home for him.

[Galloisdaman]

Nobody knows for sure what KL will do. All anyone can do is guess. Here is my best guess.

1. Toronto 40% chance: Most money. Winning team. Hero status. Familiar with teammates.
2. Clippers 35% chance: Family. California history: Solid organization. Possibility for another FA.
3. Everybody else 25%:

[Quake Griffin]

Nobody knows for sure what KL will do. All anyone can do is guess. Here is my best guess.

1. Toronto 40% chance: Most money. Winning team. Hero status. Familiar with teammates.
2. Clippers 35% chance: Family. California history: Solid organization. Possibility for another FA.
3. Everybody else 25%:

Explain the “Family” portion.

Why don’t Paul George, Russell Westbrick, and Harden care about it? All three of them actually own homes in Los Angeles (not San Diego like Kawhi’s home). All three are from the city. All three make absolutely no secret about how much they love their hometown and people/things from it.Hell, Westbrick’s costs $20 million. He’s rich but he’s not $20 million on a second home, rich. Looks like that is where he really wants to raise his son and have holidays with his family.

Just put it under the “Kawhi’s a Weird Dude” tab?

Okay.

I guess.

[Galloisdaman]

Nobody knows for sure what KL will do. All anyone can do is guess. Here is my best guess.

1. Toronto 40% chance: Most money. Winning team. Hero status. Familiar with teammates.
2. Clippers 35% chance: Family. California history: Solid organization. Possibility for another FA.
3. Everybody else 25%:

Explain the “Family” portion.

Why don’t Paul George, Russell Westbrick, and Harden care about it? All three of them actually own homes in Los Angeles (not San Diego like Kawhi’s home). All three are from the city. All three make absolutely no secret about how much they love their hometown and people/things from it.Hell, Westbrick’s costs $20 million. He’s rich but he’s not $20 million on a second home, rich. Looks like that is where he really wants to raise his son and have holidays with his family.

Just put it under the “Kawhi’s a Weird Dude” tab?

Okay.

I guess.

All these guys are individuals. Some guys want to be close to family. Some guys want to be far from family. Some guys do not care either way. I was just guessing at family being a possible factor for KL since he has his uncle do his talking at times but I do not know. As I said those were my guesses. I do not think even KL knows where he is going today.

[MartinToVaught]

1) Yes, the Raptors have done a wonderful job with his load management and I'll even concede that your medical and training staff is probably better than ours since I've been critical about our organization bringing in notable members to our personnel. However, it would be a mistake on your part to think that Steve Ballmer would not do everything within his power to accommodate Kawhi Leonard as a free agent since he's made it his mission to go first-class in everything we do--or logo design notwithstanding. We're no longer owned by Donald Sterling.

In fairness, this is the same franchise that misdiagnosed Blake when he had a similar injury and derailed a entire season of his career in the process. It's 100% fair to question whether or not the Clippers would manage Kawhi's load management as competently as the Raptors have.

[mttwlsn16]

Damn first time on this board, didn't realize another fan base would be this obsessed with our superstar.

How dare we be excited about the possibility of signing one of the top players in the league! Silly us.

Not like we have much else to discuss right now since our squad got bounced rd 1. Go troll elsewhere.

[esqtvd]

Damn first time on this board, didn't realize another fan base would be this obsessed with our superstar.

How dare we be excited about the possibility of signing one of the top players in the league! Silly us.

Not like we have much else to discuss right now since our squad got bounced rd 1. Go troll elsewhere.

cruel, but fair

[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

So it's going to happen?

[TucsonClip]

Damn first time on this board, didn't realize another fan base would be this obsessed with our superstar.

That's because we've been on Kawhi since West was hired and before he was a Raptor. He's been plan 1A for two years.

[TucsonClip]

So it's going to happen?

Looking at houses is different than putting in an offer. If he's planning on signing a long-term deal this summer (with anyone), it would make sense for him to start looking around now, especially in Toronto where he currently resides and won't cause a heart attack.

Could you imagine a story breaking that he's looking at houses in LA?

[Quake Griffin]

I own my own home and have been through the process.

Yes, I could.

[TucsonClip]

I own my own home and have been through the process.

Yes, I could.

My point being it would be a media field day as the Raptors are on the verge of winning a title.