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

[shtolky]

Woj can go suck his momma. Pouring salt on our celebration every chance he gets

I do wonder why Woj keeps smacking the Raptors while pushing a pro LA agenda on everything. It's gotten worse since the move to ESPN.

He's been pro Nets too. He is a phenomenal breaker of news, but this type of reporting, weeks before things happen, he sucks at.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Woj also said the Wiz were preparing a massive offer for MU, which seems to have been shot down today.

Even though Woj seems to have huge big market bias lately, I will say he's almost never proven wrong with a source. Him at his worst is still better than 99% out there. The ones that are his competition still co write articles and sources with him. So he may be a douche, but doesn't necessarily mean he's wrong. His sources deserve some benefit of doubt. I believe the Wizards rumor more than the one flat out denying it.

[madmaxmedia]

What work would Toronto possibly have to do? They catered to his load management needs, they won a title, and they want him back in the worst way. No work has to be done. If he leaves Toronto now, he was never staying no matter what happened.

tough... really tough since I don't know much more they can do at this point. Maybe Leonard doesn't want to take risk of 1+1 deal and is concerned about Raptors relying on so many older player in addition to the younger Siakam. Maybe trading Siakam plus picks + Gasol for AD, would convince him to stay. Tough if it takes such a move since AD himself wants to play for Lakers.

With Leonard back, Toronto deserves to be title favorite for next year but its close and their roster including Leonard to a certain extent is aging.

If Leonard is thinking his next deal should be 3-4 years at least, I think the work Toronto needs to do is just convince Leonard, they are positioned well for those 3-4 years and not just next year.

Maybe part of the work is keeping the gm.

Who knows....

I guess the idea is that they're not going to sit back and go "we won a title, our work is done, let's see if he stays." They'll do their due diligence and make a big pitch, sell him on their 4-5 year plan going forward, and all that. This is all obvious of course, that's what lies ahead for any team hoping to keep or lure big free agents.

[Saciid11]

Woj can go suck his momma. Pouring salt on our celebration every chance he gets

I do wonder why Woj keeps smacking the Raptors while pushing a pro LA agenda on everything. It's gotten worse since the move to ESPN.

ESPN cannot except the fact that raptors are champions..

[NeoDragonKnight]

So its not like Woj talked to Kawhi who is busy celebrating the past day so the only reason he publishes this story is to discredit and draw attention away from what Toronto has done and our celebration. Such a classless oaf. And no one is going to be mad at Kawhi for leaving, and he will get a heroes welcome if hes on another team on his visit to Toronto. Hell I want his number retired for this alone.

[OkcSinceSGA]

So its not like Woj talked to Kawhi who is busy celebrating the past day so the only reason he publishes this story is to discredit and draw attention away from what Toronto has done and our celebration. Such a classless oaf.

Don't worry. Before the Ballmer era, he **** on the Clippers a lot too during CP3/Blake era. That being said, I still trust his sources, despite his obnoxiousness.

[mademan]

If he goes to LA it's simply because he wants to be home, I don't think anyone should be mad at him if he does leave that's the reason. Cause I don't see how the Clippers are a better basketball situation than the Raptors are right now.

I think the Raptors are more built to win the next year or two. If you compare rosters top to bottom, assets, flexibility etc.. I think the Clippers (with Kawhi of course) will be better for 5+ years almost certainly. Lowry and Gasol are due to fall off a cliff at any time. Ibaka likely won't continue this resurgence. It's basically gonna be Kawhi+Siakam and an inferior role player cast outside of that. I get Siakam is the best young player, but he's not better than Harrell+SGA+Shamet combined for example. Clippers are younger with their core and the vets they do have like Lou/Gallo are borderline all star guys. So I still disagree that's it's a pure LA decision. Likely biggest factor, but the Clippers front office, ownership, coaching and future prospects are top tier as well.

All this said, I expect him to stay anyway.

This really isnt based in anything though. Clips don't have any blue chip prospects. The best young talent between the 2 teams is very easily Pascal, and that's unlikely to change. Harrell+SGA+Shamet vs Siakim+FVV+OG is a no brainer, imo, based almost entirely off the strength of Siakim (while there isnt a big gap, if at all, between SGA/Shamet and FVV/OG)

Both FO's are great, though (i may be biased), but i like Masai's ability to make something out of nothing more. And, according to one of the owners, Masai is here for the long haul while Jerry West has been more mercenary-ish.

Personally, i think Raps are clearly better over the next year or 2 (unless Clips can get a 2nd max guy) and anything beyond that is impossible to tell

[AdagioPace]

Kawhi is a west coast guy.

Winning changes things but the thought was he always wanted to end up on the west coast.

exactly, regardless of injuries, load management and other excuses. He basically pulled an Anthony Davis before AD last season. This coming off-season will just reinforce and put the cherry on top on a process started 18 months ago.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

If he goes to LA it's simply because he wants to be home, I don't think anyone should be mad at him if he does leave that's the reason. Cause I don't see how the Clippers are a better basketball situation than the Raptors are right now.

I think the Raptors are more built to win the next year or two. If you compare rosters top to bottom, assets, flexibility etc.. I think the Clippers (with Kawhi of course) will be better for 5+ years almost certainly. Lowry and Gasol are due to fall off a cliff at any time. Ibaka likely won't continue this resurgence. It's basically gonna be Kawhi+Siakam and an inferior role player cast outside of that. I get Siakam is the best young player, but he's not better than Harrell+SGA+Shamet combined for example. Clippers are younger with their core and the vets they do have like Lou/Gallo are borderline all star guys. So I still disagree that's it's a pure LA decision. Likely biggest factor, but the Clippers front office, ownership, coaching and future prospects are top tier as well.

All this said, I expect him to stay anyway.

Siakam and FVV are proven on the biggest level now, there's no telling what SGA/Shamet and Harrell would be able to do on the biggest stage. The potential of SGA & Shamet is good, but FVV & Siakam have actualized that and Siakam has proven he can be a secondary star on a championship team with 20/7/4 in the finals being guarded by Iguodala and Green. I think Siakam will be an all-star next season, none of those young guys on the Clippers will be that in the next 2-3 years.

I think it's purely a lifestyle decision to go to the Clippers, basketball definitely comes secondary IMO.

[Yuri Vaultin]

I've learned to only trust Woj during the draft. Outside of that he sucks lemons and guesses - basically a mouth piece for agents.

[soloxylo]

Really been sick of the NBA media this year, especially ESPN. They've been itching all year to talk about this off season, even throughout the playoffs. It's just disgusting at this point, it's just quite evident who Woj is a mouthpiece for at this point; first the Masai to Wizards report - now this. All within hours of such an amazing moment, even when Kawhi was on the podium; still was asked questions about free agency. June 30th is in 2 weeks, yet they couldn't even wait a few days after a Finals win. Just disgusting.

[Jenga_tDot]

Woj has turned into a hack.
He clearly has some anti-raptors agenda.

[djsunyc]

If he goes to LA it's simply because he wants to be home, I don't think anyone should be mad at him if he does leave that's the reason. Cause I don't see how the Clippers are a better basketball situation than the Raptors are right now.

I think the Raptors are more built to win the next year or two. If you compare rosters top to bottom, assets, flexibility etc.. I think the Clippers (with Kawhi of course) will be better for 5+ years almost certainly. Lowry and Gasol are due to fall off a cliff at any time. Ibaka likely won't continue this resurgence. It's basically gonna be Kawhi+Siakam and an inferior role player cast outside of that. I get Siakam is the best young player, but he's not better than Harrell+SGA+Shamet combined for example. Clippers are younger with their core and the vets they do have like Lou/Gallo are borderline all star guys. So I still disagree that's it's a pure LA decision. Likely biggest factor, but the Clippers front office, ownership, coaching and future prospects are top tier as well.

All this said, I expect him to stay anyway.

ujiri, imho no matter how biased it may be, is the best exec in the business. he can quickly re-shape this roster into a younger contender within 2 years for multiple titles if kawhi stays. and outside of signing to play with lebron or kd, he won't have a better sidekick than pascal.

but i always thought he was leaving b/c him leaving have absolutely nothing to do with basketball and more about lifestyle and family.

[Courtside]

Lol man, not even giving them 24 hours to celebrate.

Woj can suck a djck. They were out in the floor celebrating last night and he was tweeting about Washington making him a major offer to head up their organization.

[Clay Davis]

If he goes to LA it's simply because he wants to be home, I don't think anyone should be mad at him if he does leave that's the reason. Cause I don't see how the Clippers are a better basketball situation than the Raptors are right now.

I think the Raptors are more built to win the next year or two. If you compare rosters top to bottom, assets, flexibility etc.. I think the Clippers (with Kawhi of course) will be better for 5+ years almost certainly. Lowry and Gasol are due to fall off a cliff at any time. Ibaka likely won't continue this resurgence. It's basically gonna be Kawhi+Siakam and an inferior role player cast outside of that. I get Siakam is the best young player, but he's not better than Harrell+SGA+Shamet combined for example. Clippers are younger with their core and the vets they do have like Lou/Gallo are borderline all star guys. So I still disagree that's it's a pure LA decision. Likely biggest factor, but the Clippers front office, ownership, coaching and future prospects are top tier as well.

All this said, I expect him to stay anyway.

Siakam + FVV + OG is definitely better than Harrell + SGA + Shamet

[The Laker Kid]

Too soon, Clipper fan Let the Raps celebrate for now. It still hasn't sunk in yet that they are the NBA Champs. They probably woke up this morning wondering if they just had a dream.

[madmaxmedia]

Kawhi is a west coast guy.

Winning changes things but the thought was he always wanted to end up on the west coast.

I think it can be a tough personal situation to be in for an athlete, who has family/personal ties to one place and now professional/personal ties to another.

It could be the opposite situation where the Clippers traded for a Ontario-born superstar who always wanted to play in Toronto, he wins a title in LA and naturally he's going to feel conflicting emotions as he becomes a free agent.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Woj has turned into a hack.
He clearly has some anti-raptors agenda.

He's not a hack just because you don't agree with him.

[VancouverRaps]

What work would Toronto possibly have to do? They catered to his load management needs, they won a title, and they want him back in the worst way. No work has to be done. If he leaves Toronto now, he was never staying no matter what happened.

Pretty much this.There's not much left for Masai to do.

Unless Woj is implying that Masai can sell him on staying by promising to acquire another star to join him

Or can offer him some sort of a "trade out guarantee" with a max deal, that way Kawhi gets paid the max, can stick around in Toronto for as long as he wants(probably just a year or 2) and be guaranteed a trade to the Clippers/Lakers whenever he'd like.

Seems like a long shot though, too many moving parts in that scenario, especially with the salary cap.

Kawhi seems like he went out of his way to sort of distance himself from the team during the interviews last night so I think the writing is on the wall. I wish him the best and will be a lifelong fan of his no matter what he chooses to do.

[TreyKincade]

Nobody should be mad at him. He gave Toronto a chip. He’s not going to the team nobody wants him to go to (Lakers).

It’ll be rooting for him