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

[Realfan2019]

I would be shocked if Kawhi left the situation he is in now in Toronto. That team will be favoured to defend their title. Siakam is legit and has top 10 player in the NBA type upside and a champion now who’s showcased his game at the biggest stage in the finals taking it to Draymond.

I am not sure why Kawhi would leave the opportunity to play the prime of his career with an emerging star like Pascal Siakam and big nuts FVV who will take over from Lowry in a year and OG Ananoby who was injured and not even available for the playoffs. Besides vets like Ibaka, Lowry, Gasol etc. that is a team that can easily defend their title especially if Siakam is a perennial 2 way all-star moving forward who now has all kinds of experience and is already 2nd best player on championship team.

The most important positional players in the NBA aren’t the bigs or even the guards, it’s the WINGS and it does not get much better than the length, athleticism, speed, defence and youth Siakam 24 along with Leonard 27 provide.

He would not have the quality in young players moving forward to build around with the Clippers and definitely not the quality in the cast of vets ready to help him win again next year unless another max type player joins him to make up the gap.

Kawhi was coasting at times in these finals and some games in the playoffs due to the team around him. 2 or 3 voters didn’t even have him as finals MVP going with FVV and Siakam.

[MartinToVaught]

He would not have the quality in young players moving forward to build around with the Clippers and definitely not the quality in the cast of vets ready to help him win again next year unless another max type player joins him to make up the gap.

I've been convinced that Kawhi's staying in Toronto since that shot against Philly, but this just isn't true. SGA, Shamet, Zubac and Harrell are all legit as far as young talent goes. And adding another max player can easily be arranged.

If Kawhi stays in Toronto, it's not because the supporting cast he'd have in LA isn't good enough. It's because he just won a championship, so why mess with success?

[mkwest]

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[Loujitsu]

Kawhi is coming to the Clippers. Call me crazy, but based on all his post championship interviews I am just getting the vibe that he is done with his chapter as a Raptor. Kawhi did exactly what he set out to do when he was first traded to Toronto and since he brought the city a championship, he can now leave guilt free and go where he really wants to be. I predict he comes via sign and trade for Galo?? or on a 1+1 deal.

[itsme23]

Think Kawhi will sign with clips as well.

Not because it’s a better situation because obviously Toronto is the better situation, no one can really question that.

But I just get the feeling his heart is in L.A, he’s desperate for the warm weather, and He’s won multiple rings now and winning I don’t think is the main factor.

Plus he is the kinda dude that prob thinks he can make any team into a contender.

[tripa]

This thread will go down as the most pathetic in RealGM history when Kawhi signs with the Raptors again

[Ranma]

This thread will go down as the most pathetic in RealGM history when Kawhi signs with the Raptors again

And if he doesn't? What does that make a post from some Johnny-Come-Lately troll who's now claiming ownership over Kawhi when we've been following him well before he ever made his way to Toronto? Enjoy your championship. It'll likely be your only one for a long while, especially if Masai Ujiri leaves for Washington D.C.

[mkwest]

This thread will go down as the most pathetic in RealGM history when Kawhi signs with the Raptors again

What's pathetic? Discussing a player that we know is of interest to this team and a player that has been rumored to have interest in this team? You go on any semi-active team forum that has had any rumor of a player concerning their team and there will more than likely be a thread. That's not pathetic.

Pathetic is being so insecure to realize that other fans may talk about the NBA from the perspective of their fanbase. If you aren't a part of this fanbase, then you may not like what you read here at times if it's not favorable to your team. If I stumble into another team's forum and it's anti-Clipper, I'm not going to cry about it. I would have entered at my own risk.

Your team has won a championship, I've already congratulated you all on your team's forum. Continue the celebration and enjoy it, but don't come here trolling because many of us happen to have interest in a player that was traded to your team that will also be a Free-Agent.

[esqtvd]

Kawhi is coming to the Clippers. Call me crazy, but based on all his post championship interviews I am just getting the vibe that he is done with his chapter as a Raptor. Kawhi did exactly what he set out to do when he was first traded to Toronto and since he brought the city a championship, he can now leave guilt free and go where he really wants to be. I predict he comes via sign and trade for Galo?? or on a 1+1 deal.

Kawhi's still clearly noncommittal. I think--in principle--he owes his teammates a chance to defend their title but OTOH, who will still be left on the team? There might be no new "home" with the Raptors for Kawhi to stay with. This could be a one-and-done that has nothing to do with him really. The Wiz are gonna throw some Godfather 'offer you can't refuse' money at POBO Masai Ujiri.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/raptors-masai-ujiri-washington-wizards-offer

Lowry's 33 and on the last year of his [overpaid] contract, Gasol turns 35. Danny Green at 32 was a nonfactor in the playoffs.

Ibaka's still nice at 30 and Siakam is only 24. Van Vleet hit some shots and Anunoby might be a player someday, but there's really not a lot there to hang Kawhi's hat on.

And there was a TON of luck involved--Kawhi's bizarre 4-bounce buzzer beater in Game 7 against a talented but flawed Sixers team, then GSW losing 2 of their top 3 players in the Finals.

This was just one of those years, like Dirk's ring and Larry Brown's improbable Pistons team. Somebody had to win, and it was Kawhi.

Toronto really has no realistic expectation to repeat. It might be best for Kawhi to get his ass home to LA while the getting's good, and that means the max 4-year deal with the Clippers.

Or signing the 5-yr max with Toronto, if those contracts permit an opt-out that still gets him back to LA sometime in the next 2 years. There's no budding dynasty up there in Toronto, nothing to commit the rest of your career to. This was a one-shot deal.

[Galloisdaman]

He would not have the quality in young players moving forward to build around with the Clippers and definitely not the quality in the cast of vets ready to help him win again next year unless another max type player joins him to make up the gap.

I've been convinced that Kawhi's staying in Toronto since that shot against Philly, but this just isn't true. SGA, Shamet, Zubac and Harrell are all legit as far as young talent goes. And adding another max player can easily be arranged.

If Kawhi stays in Toronto, it's not because the supporting cast he'd have in LA isn't good enough. It's because he just won a championship, so why mess with success?

I'm not saying you are wrong but I'm going to play devils advocate for a second with your statement in bold just for discussion sake.

Don't many teams feel they have a group of younger players that are comparable or better? None of the guys you named were very high draft choices.

Who do you view as the other max player that can be easily obtained?

[Realfan2019]

Kawhi is coming to the Clippers. Call me crazy, but based on all his post championship interviews I am just getting the vibe that he is done with his chapter as a Raptor. Kawhi did exactly what he set out to do when he was first traded to Toronto and since he brought the city a championship, he can now leave guilt free and go where he really wants to be. I predict he comes via sign and trade for Galo?? or on a 1+1 deal.

Kawhi's still clearly noncommittal. I think--in principle--he owes his teammates a chance to defend their title but OTOH, who will still be left on the team? There might be no new "home" with the Raptors for Kawhi to stay with. This could be a one-and-done that has nothing to do with him really. The Wiz are gonna throw some Godfather 'offer you can't refuse' money at POBO Masai Ujiri.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/raptors-masai-ujiri-washington-wizards-offer

Lowry's 33 and on the last year of his [overpaid] contract, Gasol turns 35. Danny Green at 32 was a nonfactor in the playoffs.

Ibaka's still nice at 30 and Siakam is only 24. Van Vleet hit some shots and Anunoby might be a player someday, but there's really not a lot there to hang Kawhi's hat on.

And there was a TON of luck involved--Kawhi's bizarre 4-bounce buzzer beater in Game 7 against a talented but flawed Sixers team, then GSW losing 2 of their top 3 players in the Finals.

This was just one of those years, like Dirk's ring and Larry Brown's improbable Pistons team. Somebody had to win, and it was Kawhi.

Toronto really has no realistic expectation to repeat. It might be best for Kawhi to get his ass home to LA while the getting's good, and that means the max 4-year deal with the Clippers.

Or signing the 5-yr max with Toronto, if those contracts permit an opt-out that still gets him back to LA sometime in the next 2 years. There's no budding dynasty up there in Toronto, nothing to commit the rest of your career to. This was a one-shot deal.

Siakam alone has more value and upside at both ends of the floor than anything current on the Clippers the Klaw can run with. He is a guaranteed 20pt/10rb all-star next year and all-team defence and still getting better. He should have been on that all-nba defensive team this year which he just came up short on and should have been an all-star with what he did on the team with the 2nd best record in the NBA. All that changes next year with his finals debut in game one and monster close out game 6 getting the title winning basket putting it on the key against Draymond.

[supra2k8]

Kawhi is coming to the Clippers. Call me crazy, but based on all his post championship interviews I am just getting the vibe that he is done with his chapter as a Raptor. Kawhi did exactly what he set out to do when he was first traded to Toronto and since he brought the city a championship, he can now leave guilt free and go where he really wants to be. I predict he comes via sign and trade for Galo?? or on a 1+1 deal.

As a raptor's fan I feel the same way, I think there was probably more of a chance for him to stay if Klay and KD played and raps lost in 6 or 7.

[Quake Griffin]

Not sure why you are getting so upset. I mentioned Jordan, Lebron, Shaq, Duncan, etc because most dynasties are built around a generational player. Those players are drafted but they are the outliers not the norm. Those players often go #1 or close to it. Pretty much every team tries to build through the draft. Just asking your thoughts and replying. Nothing personal. If you would like me to stop discussing things with you I will. Its not a big deal. Just hoops chat for me.

It was frustrating to see you talk past what you were directly quoting and suggest things contrary or off to what you were quoting. It felt like talking to a robot programmed to respond “Draft. Does not compute. Not likely to get Jordan or Bron.”

I answered substantively regardless and gave you my direct thoughts on the idea of dynasties and my thoughts on how we should be maximizing our opportunity with Jerry West here.

It wasn’t all frustration.

I think most people respond to the things that strike them most in a post but not everything in a long post. I was not trying to offend you in any way. You spoke about wanting a dynasty. You spoke about wanting a 5 year run of finals. That is what led me to discuss those generational type players. Most dynasties are built around generational players. Most teams try to build through the draft but generational players that dynasties are built around are very rare so things are much more complicated than just keeping all draft picks. There are loser teams that have been in the lottery for years. Sometimes they have had #1 overall picks but still it was not the year of a generational player so despite many lottery picks they never had a real chance at a dynasty. I'm just giving my opinion and commenting. I do not have anything against you, what you said or what you hope for. A dynasty built mainly through the draft would be great. I do not know many people that would not like to have a mostly home grown dynasty. The tricky part is having the luck to get it. Would a player at #20 this year help build that dynasty? There is no way to know but odds are not great that a player drafted that low this year would be a huge factor IMO.That does not mean it would be impossible. The Spurs had success with some later picks.

I don't care what bad franchises do. It is not a productive use of our time to compare our front office (arguably the best) with a team like the Suns because the Suns cant get their **** together. It's also not productive to discuss this as "mainly through the draft". I've never discussed limiting the ways the Clippers should get better. My point is they should use all ways to get better.


Not sure why you keep explaining the unlikelihood of finding a superstar in the draft.
Just because I want sustained success/ a dynasty doesnt mean that every draft is the "find Michael Jordan" draft.
Picks add to our talent cup and build value in our roster. Who is to say we couldn't use that developed player in a trade?
The Clippers are in no position to turn down avenues to upgrade their roster. We did that this year to try to sell a guy, Kawhi, who didn't need selling because....he asked to be traded to us before we started doing all this angling.

Finding a superstar through the FA is just as unlikely. If it wasn't, every team would do it.
We've done everything right....including tamper....and literally nobody here would be surprised if Kawhi re-signed with Toronto.

[Galloisdaman]

It was frustrating to see you talk past what you were directly quoting and suggest things contrary or off to what you were quoting. It felt like talking to a robot programmed to respond “Draft. Does not compute. Not likely to get Jordan or Bron.”

I answered substantively regardless and gave you my direct thoughts on the idea of dynasties and my thoughts on how we should be maximizing our opportunity with Jerry West here.

It wasn’t all frustration.

I think most people respond to the things that strike them most in a post but not everything in a long post. I was not trying to offend you in any way. You spoke about wanting a dynasty. You spoke about wanting a 5 year run of finals. That is what led me to discuss those generational type players. Most dynasties are built around generational players. Most teams try to build through the draft but generational players that dynasties are built around are very rare so things are much more complicated than just keeping all draft picks. There are loser teams that have been in the lottery for years. Sometimes they have had #1 overall picks but still it was not the year of a generational player so despite many lottery picks they never had a real chance at a dynasty. I'm just giving my opinion and commenting. I do not have anything against you, what you said or what you hope for. A dynasty built mainly through the draft would be great. I do not know many people that would not like to have a mostly home grown dynasty. The tricky part is having the luck to get it. Would a player at #20 this year help build that dynasty? There is no way to know but odds are not great that a player drafted that low this year would be a huge factor IMO.That does not mean it would be impossible. The Spurs had success with some later picks.

I don't care what bad franchises do. It is not a productive use of our time to compare our front office (arguably the best) with a team like the Suns because the Suns cant get their **** together. It's also not productive to discuss this as "mainly through the draft". I've never discussed limiting the ways the Clippers should get better. My point is they should use all ways to get better.


Not sure why you keep explaining the unlikelihood of finding a superstar in the draft.
Just because I want sustained success/ a dynasty doesnt mean that every draft is the "find Michael Jordan" draft.
Picks add to our talent cup and build value in our roster. Who is to say we couldn't use that developed player in a trade?
The Clippers are in no position to turn down avenues to upgrade their roster. We did that this year to try to sell a guy, Kawhi, who didn't need selling because....he asked to be traded to us before we started doing all this angling.

Finding a superstar through the FA is just as unlikely. If it wasn't, every team would do it.
We've done everything right....including tamper....and literally nobody here would be surprised if Kawhi re-signed with Toronto.

There is no way to say what might have happened with #19 if the team missed the playoffs. He could be great. He could be horrible. Or he could be somewhere in the middle. All we can do is speculate. Wouldn't Boston get the Clips pick next draft if they didn't this upcoming draft? You mentioned that our front office is arguably the best. Wouldn't it make sense for them to make the right call regarding the playoffs and what year Boston got the pick?

[Clemenza]

This thread will go down as the most pathetic in RealGM history when Kawhi signs with the Raptors again

Not really. Most Clipper fans think he's resigning with Toronto or at worst I don't think non of us would be pissed or shocked if he stays in The North. It is what it is. So you expect the "Clipper board" not to have a Kawhi thread???

[Quake Griffin]

I think most people respond to the things that strike them most in a post but not everything in a long post. I was not trying to offend you in any way. You spoke about wanting a dynasty. You spoke about wanting a 5 year run of finals. That is what led me to discuss those generational type players. Most dynasties are built around generational players. Most teams try to build through the draft but generational players that dynasties are built around are very rare so things are much more complicated than just keeping all draft picks. There are loser teams that have been in the lottery for years. Sometimes they have had #1 overall picks but still it was not the year of a generational player so despite many lottery picks they never had a real chance at a dynasty. I'm just giving my opinion and commenting. I do not have anything against you, what you said or what you hope for. A dynasty built mainly through the draft would be great. I do not know many people that would not like to have a mostly home grown dynasty. The tricky part is having the luck to get it. Would a player at #20 this year help build that dynasty? There is no way to know but odds are not great that a player drafted that low this year would be a huge factor IMO.That does not mean it would be impossible. The Spurs had success with some later picks.

I don't care what bad franchises do. It is not a productive use of our time to compare our front office (arguably the best) with a team like the Suns because the Suns cant get their **** together. It's also not productive to discuss this as "mainly through the draft". I've never discussed limiting the ways the Clippers should get better. My point is they should use all ways to get better.


Not sure why you keep explaining the unlikelihood of finding a superstar in the draft.
Just because I want sustained success/ a dynasty doesnt mean that every draft is the "find Michael Jordan" draft.
Picks add to our talent cup and build value in our roster. Who is to say we couldn't use that developed player in a trade?
The Clippers are in no position to turn down avenues to upgrade their roster. We did that this year to try to sell a guy, Kawhi, who didn't need selling because....he asked to be traded to us before we started doing all this angling.

Finding a superstar through the FA is just as unlikely. If it wasn't, every team would do it.
We've done everything right....including tamper....and literally nobody here would be surprised if Kawhi re-signed with Toronto.

There is no way to say what might have happened with #19 if the team missed the playoffs. He could be great. He could be horrible. Or he could be somewhere in the middle. All we can do is speculate. Wouldn't Boston get the Clips pick next draft if they didn't this upcoming draft? You mentioned that our front office is arguably the best. Wouldn't it make sense for them to make the right call regarding the playoffs and what year Boston got the pick?

Ballmer set the pace on not tanking or worrying about the pick from what I can tell. I doubt the other guys would care if we missed and I doubt that they’d be here today (June 15th, 2019) feeling like we have no shot at Kawhi if we missed

Remember. We’re only here because rumor had it he wanted to be traded here when we were 42-40 and MISSED the playoffs. You think 6 more wins and winning 2 games against a team he just beat in the finals is the difference maker? I sure don’t.

In basketball, I’d dribble the ball up the court and pass the ball to Michael Jordan and watch him do a one on one move. That’s a quality offensive play if we’re looking on the proper spectrum.

Same with Jerry West....i’d Love to feed him multiple opportunities in his next 2 seasons here to try and strike gold....and I would NEVER EVER take an opportunity for him to help scout and draft a player away from him.

[Galloisdaman]

I do not know that the playoffs or a draft choice will matter to KL. We could speculate but his motives are hard to read.

I did wonder if they were throwing in the towel on the season by trading Tobias who many called the best Clipper but after a day or so the team gave indications that they were not going to quit. The players were not going to quit on themselves so if they wanted to toss the season Doc would have had to be told to sit their best players by the front office.

[Ranma]

Kawhi stated from the very beginning that he'll try to incorporate elements of great players into his own game citing Melo's mid-range expertise and CP3's pick-and-roll mastery. While acknowledging his shortcomings, he also seems to thrive on using criticisms of his game as motivation for improvement. He also thought he could develop into a player who could play both wing positions instead of just small forward. Plus, he didn't seem to agree with his being compared to Gerald Wallace at the time.

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[supra2k8]

This thread will go down as the most pathetic in RealGM history when Kawhi signs with the Raptors again

Not really. Most Clipper fans think he's resigning with Toronto or at worst I don't think non of us would be pissed or shocked if he stays in The North. It is what it is. So you expect the "Clipper board" not to have a Kawhi thread???

it's kinda funny that most raptors fans think that he's probably gone and will sign with the clippers

[Ranma]

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Mirjam Swanson, Press-Enterprise (6/14/19)

Leonard began his high school basketball career in Moreno Valley, playing at Canyon Springs before transferring to King, where his Wolves made a name for their school athletically by winning the 2009 CIF-SS Division 1AA boys basketball championship.

“It is really special to see someone from our neighborhood really become a world phenomenon like he is today!” texted Alyssa Montejo, whose girls soccer team won a CIF-SS title the same year Leonard’s squad did.

Naturally, Holland and Contreras both try to play like Leonard – but they’re more focused on his unshakably calm demeanor than his drives or dunks.

“I just like the way he always plays hard, no matter good or bad,” Contreras said. “He’s always straightforward and pushing forward.”

“If he has a bad play, he doesn’t mope,” Holland said. “He gets back on defense and thinks about the next play. He has a good attitude.”

Kawhi Leonard Starred for the Toronto Raptors, But His Inland Area Connection Remains Strong


Mirjam Swanson, Press-Enterprise (6/14/19)

This past season, the Clippers’ buy-in to the work-hard, kick-butt approach that Beverley described had a lot to do with the camaraderie that led to the team’s success. Now it could, conceivably, pay off this offseason.

“You have to understand who are the type of people you want in your program,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said during the playoffs. “Usually, like-minded people – they may have different personalities, you may have some who are more extroverted and some introverted, and some that react to different things – at their core, like to be around similarly focused people.

“So, high-character, competitive, tough, and over-yourself and into-the-team guys, usually they’re attracted to each other,” he continued. “And when you blend those personalities with an elite coach, you know, special things can happen.”

How the Clippers Built a Culture, Roster and Narrative That Matches with Kawhi Leonard’s Work Ethic