Kawhi wants out of San Antonio

[Black Adam]

It would be funny if the Spurs trade Kawhi to the Clippers instead of the Lakers. Am I right @Mecca & @ChiefsLakers67?

huh...

we might've seen this screw job once before...

 

[trojanfan12]

And yes.

They are top 3 or 4 with Kyrie and Hayward.

Still pretty far behind GS.

But, if Ainge can make a couple moves to turn some of the depth into high end talent, they will have a chance. As is, I just can't see it.

Boston is in an interesting and potentially tough spot, imo.

On the one hand, they appear to have a very, very bright future. They are very young and just made it to the ECF without 2 all star level veteran players. @Gman is right in that is a very positive thing.

GSW is likely to have to start making some very tough decisions beginning next off-season.

Because of their youth, they can afford to wait and see what happens when the bills come due in Oakland.

But, what if they stand pat, but the Sixers do something to put themselves ahead of the Celtics and/or Kyrie doesn't re-sign? What if having Kyrie and Hayward back doesn't make as big a difference as some, myself included, think it will? They could very well end up regretting that decision.

On the other hand, what if they give up important pieces to get Kawhi and he doesn't re-sign with them?

On top that, what if the Warriors find a way to keep the band together for the next 5 years? Of course, that's the thing every team in the league is worried about right now, sooooo...lol

 

[Gman]

They are challengers because the East is pretty weak and, assuming Lebron leaves Cleveland, it is a 2 team race for the Eastern conference title.

This is part of the reason they're challengers... sure.

I have no problem admitting the East < the West as things now stand.

Not contrarian. Every season is a new season and you are assuming that everything will remain static and simply having Kyrie and Hayward in the playoffs will make them significantly better.

For the sake of argument, let's say this is my assumption with nothing else to go along with it.

That assumption is 100% reasonable and correct... all by its lonesome.

So... yeah.

It was definitely a great run and the Celtics are a serious threat to reach the finals. But unless they get a big time piece, they aren't beating the Warriors or Rockets.

Fair enough as to your opinion... which you're certainly entitled to.

I disagree that they necessarily "need" to add a piece to be a reasonable challenger for the title... for the sake of argument, let's say "reasonable challenger" is a team that could hypothetically push either GS or Houston to at least 6 games in a playoff series.

I think the C's could do that as soon as next season... because of their strengths of team basketball (coaching factors in here) and defense.

 

[Gman]

All true.

Kyrie and Hayward aren't improving the defense though. Fewer minutes for players like Smart, Morris and Brown make the defense weaker. At least some of what you gain offensively is given back on the other end.

Fair enough on this point... although a motivated Kyrie proved to be a decent defender last season and Hayward isn't a bad defender either (he has really added muscle over his career)... so this point only goes so far.

The C's have plenty of options and versatility on defense... their main strength by far. Kyrie has height that a guy like Rozier lacks... so come playoff time they could adjust more to teams that were clearly targeting shorties like Rozier and Larkin.

 

[trojanfan12]

Any dad's out there have plans for the day? Did the Fathers Day thing yesterday instead because it's supposed to be raining on & off all day.

No real plans.

The only kid still home is my son. So, I'll hang with him for a bit today. The daughters are moved away, they'll all be calling and texting at different points during the day.

Gonna watch the Dodgers later on and cook something, probably ribs, in my smoker.

 

[The Q]

Presumably, a big part of Kyrie wanting to be in San Antonio was the fact that Kawhi would be there with him.

Kyrie wanted to be the best player on his team.

He hasn't been yet.

Being in SA without Klaw will let him do that for the first time.

 

[Gman]

Kyrie wanted to be the best player on his team.

He hasn't been yet.

Being in SA without Klaw will let him do that for the first time.

I know what Kyrie has said...

... but words are cheap, and I personally find it hard to believe that after being on a serious contender for so long... Kyrie would truly be happy to be the best player on a rebuilding level team.

 

[The Q]

Fair enough on this point... although a motivated Kyrie proved to be a decent defender last season and Hayward isn't a bad defender either (he has really added muscle over his career)... so this point only goes so far.

The C's have plenty of options and versatility on defense... their main strength by far. Kyrie has height that a guy like Rozier lacks... so come playoff time they could adjust more to teams that were clearly targeting shorties like Rozier and Larkin.

Uhhh, Kyrie is an inch taller than Rozier, and Rozier's wingspan is 4 inches longer than Kyrie's.

 

[The Q]

I know what Kyrie has said...

... but words are cheap, and I personally find it hard to believe that after being on a serious contender for so long... Kyrie would truly be happy to be the best player on a rebuilding level team.

You think they're rebuilding? You're getting Kyrie and not losing anything from last year's team (since Klaw barely played).

 

[trojanfan12]

I know what Kyrie has said...

... but words are cheap, and I personally find it hard to believe that after being on a serious contender for so long... Kyrie would truly be happy to be the best player on a rebuilding level team.

Many found it hard to believe that he would leave a team that had been to the finals 3 straight years and had won a ring.

Remember, we're talking about a dude who thinks the world is flat, soooo...

 

[flyerhawk]

For the sake of argument, let's say this is my assumption with nothing else to go along with it.

That assumption is 100% reasonable and correct... all by its lonesome.

So... yeah.

The Celtics succeeded because they played great defense and were played cohesively.

If Smart leaves and Baynes leaves, that is going to hurt the team. Will having a healthy Kyrie and healthy Hayward offset that? Possibly. Possibly not.

Which is not to say that the Celtics will be anything but a very good team next year. But for you to extrapolate that they will become legitimate challengers to defeat the Warriors is about the MOST optimistic take you can possibly have.

 

[flyerhawk]

You think they're rebuilding? You're getting Kyrie and not losing anything from last year's team (since Klaw barely played).

Kyrie plays the same position as their best young player(Murray).

Assuming they get a full year from Kyrie, they are a 50 or so win team and a 4 seed in the playoffs with a best case outcome of a 2nd round exit.

 

[Gman]

Uhhh, Kyrie is an inch taller than Rozier, and Rozier's wingspan is 4 inches longer than Kyrie's.

Rozier got targeted in this years playoffs over and over on switches... where he was subsequently posted up.

I simply do not recall a motivated Kyrie being as much of a target for switches and post ups.

 

[Gman]

You think they're rebuilding? You're getting Kyrie and not losing anything from last year's team (since Klaw barely played).

Yes.

Several teams better in the West.

 

[Wamu]

likewise. family took me out to eat at Black Angus yesterday so it was nice to hang with the kids and grandkids...

so today's all about going into chill mode...

Good deal. I went for hike w/ the family @ El Dorado Canyon & then a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. Went to Red Lobster for dinner.

And I'm w/ you. Today is about relaxing.

 

[Wamu]

Many found it hard to believe that he would leave a team that had been to the finals 3 straight years and had won a ring.

Remember, we're talking about a dude who thinks the world is flat, soooo...

Also Kyrie had 3 years in Cleveland w/o LeBron. And while their record improved each year he failed to get them to the playoffs. There's no doubt he's a damn good player. But he's not in that elite level that could carry a team to the playoffs, let alone a title.

 

[The Q]

Yes.

Several teams better in the West.

Not answering the question. You can say the same about Boston.

 

[Gman]

Not answering the question. You can say the same about Boston.

Disagree.

Boston only has to play one of those teams in the playoffs... probably GS, whom they match up well against.

 

[The Q]

Disagree.

Boston only has to play one of those teams in the playoffs... probably GS, whom they match up well against.

Again. That doesn’t directly match the prior statement. I didn’t say they’d play multiple. Just that there were more better teams in the West. Starting with Houston and gs

 

[tlance]

Rozier got targeted in this years playoffs over and over on switches... where he was subsequently posted up.

I simply do not recall a motivated Kyrie being as much of a target for switches and post ups.

You don't think they would have done the same with Kyrie? Rozier is a better defender than Kyrie. But any 6'3" player on LeBron is a matchup LeBron is going to win.

While Kyrie and Hayward aren't horrible defensive liabilities, the issue is that they are taking minutes from legitimately great defenders like Smart.

Smart's contract is a big decision. Ainge might not want to pay $15 million to the 4th or 5th wing on the depth chart, but that is also why I think they need to make a move. Too much depth isn't always good.