According to Lifshatz---whom you all seem to hate...Kawhi to Phoenix for Jackson & #1 Pick ?
Deal would get done this week if true.
Pop should do it.
Why would Phoenix do that for a 1-year rental. It's GM suicide.
Yeah, someone tell me why any team would give up a top pick/promising young player for a guy that's headed to LA. Makes no sense to me.
That obviously kills a Fultz/Covington package. PHX is relatively close to LA so maybe they could convince Kawhi to stay. It would allow him to be in the spotlight when he wants, but not be immersed in it. Personally, I would LOVE it if Kawhi went to PHX!
Convincing someone to stay that wants to play at home.... I don't know about that. Seems like a risky strategy.
If Ryan McDonough thinks that Ayton has a high motor, I think he's picking the big man.
If Kawhi really is a top 5 player (I concede he's def top 10 when healthy), he can basically pick which team he wants to play for. I don't think there's going to be much room for convincing.
Here’s what the play is (although I doubt it’s for the rumored package):
Trade for Kawhi now and watch the Lakers sign George and LeBron. This means that next year they cannot possibly sign Kawhi outright, and would instead need to send back a package in a sign and trade. Presumably they’ll have moved on from Deng this summer in order to make room for LeBron and George, meaning their package has to include a number of their current prospects.
So if the Lakers sign LeBron and PG13, they aren’t a real threat to steal Kawhi, and you can recoup some of the assets spent for him now by helping him to the Lakers next year if he really wants to go. The Clippers could be a bigger threat, as they could sign him outright more easily, but they’d still have to do a little work, allowing you to get something to help them out as well. And in the meantime you have a year to convince him to stay.