LAD
GSAD - formally known as LAD
See, the problem with your theory of wanting "credit" is KD jus wants to WIN. He's already said he doesn't need the credit. So again, why would he leave his current situation to play in LA?Obviously, there are no guarantees about anything. The reason to start over with youngsters would be because of credit for winning.
With the Warriors he has a great situation, but he also doesn't really get credit for them winning titles because he joined a team that had already been to 2 finals and won 1. Heck, some have suggested that going to the Warriors actually diminishes his perceived greatness.
If he goes to a team of youngsters, doesn't necessarily have to be the Lakers, then he is the team leader and gets a lot more of the credit if they win a title.
I know why it works with the Warriors. I disagree to a point re: Lebron. Paul George staying in OKC, according to him, had to do with the Lakers not trading for him and nothing to do with Lebron.
To my knowledge, Kawhi hasn't said anything one way or the other. He's not in Toronto because he didn't want to play with Lebron. He's in Toronto because the Spurs weren't going to send their best player to a rival.
The only player that I've heard saying he didn't want to play with Lebron was Butler...who would be pretty far down the Lakers wish list any way.
Some of you Warriors fans crack me up. 2 years ago, no one (including most Warriors fans) thought there was any chance you'd have KD. Now suddenly, there's no way he'll leave.
The Warriors and some of their key players are about to have to make some very tough financial decisions. Klay has apparently already said, he's not giving a discount. If KD, etc. take the same approach....it's going to be unbelievably expensive to keep the team together. Even if everyone gave a discount, how big a discount will they be willing to take and will it be enough to keep the band together?
To your point about LBJ, if KD wanted to play with him so badly why do you think he didn't push for that during his FA? Only common sense answer is because he didn't want to.
Regarding Butler, you already know what I think about him & his lacking leadership skills.
Warriors fans crack you up? Lakers get LBJ & all of a sudden every top player should want to play in LA? lol Of course we couldn't foresee KD coming to GS, but he did. Now Laker fans think he wants to bolt to LA just to play with LBJ & do the heavy lifting? If so clearly you don't understand the reason he left OKC. None of us said there's no way he'd leave. We clearly say there's no way he wants to play with LBJ in LA. Those are two different things my friend.
As far as what is actually on the record as a quote from Klay is, he's WILLING to give the team a small discount. Everything else (unless you can provide a quote from Klay saying otherwise) is just the opinion of dreamers. I get why most are focusing on Klay other than the obvious reason of his looming FA. He is 1/3 of GS's offensive threat...and without him it would give the rest of the league a chance at actually dethroning them. But given the history we've seen play out on the court, where is the indication he'd even go to LA?