Where Will Kawhi End Up?

[Lipoli390]

The whole world knows that where Kawhi ends up has come down to the Clippers, Lakers and Raptors. Perhaps the means he'll sign with the Knicks. :)

He's met with the Lakers (actually with Magic Johnson). I think he's meeting with the Clippers now and plans to meet last with the Raptors. Recent reports from reports who are pretty reliable suggest that the Lakers have emerged as his first choice. That would annoy me. It would take him from being my favorite NBA player to being on my NBA villains list. So I'm hoping those reports are wrong or that Kawhi has a chance of heart. I suspect we'll get our answer late tonight or tomorrow. So it's time for all of us to weigh in with our predictions. Which of the following teams will end up with Kawhi this summer?

[Monster]

I voted Wolves signed and traded for Wiggins. :)

[Lipoli390]

Marc Stein: What we know: 1. The Lakers, as we've been saying for more than a week now, believe they are firmly in the lead largely through the recruiting efforts and assurances made on separate fronts from Magic Johnson and LeBron James ...

Reports like this one add fuel to my flaming desire to see Kawhi sign with the Raptors or Clippers -- even more so the Clippers.

I'm really sick of the Laker arrogance. And while I admire Magic Johnson as a former player, I'm growing tired of him and his odd and seemingly disingenuous behavior. One minute he's publicly rebuking his former colleague (Lakers GM) in a surprise unannounced press conference and the next minute he's praising him for the AD deal. And then he's helps recruit Kawhi to the Lakers.

As for AD, he hasn't accomplished a thing in his NBA career. Yet he demanded a trade and then engineered a trade to the one team he wanted to play for. He had Jrue Holiday and some good players around him, but couldn't get the Pelicans very far. Part of it was the fact that he has a hard time staying healthy enough to play.

So here's my plea to Kawhi, who I know reads this message board regularly: Please stay in Toronto or sign with the Clippers and play for the future hall-of-fame head coach Doc Rivers!! Then beat the Lakers and cement your place in NBA history as the player who bucked the trend, took the harder road and showed what it is to be a true leader.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think he will sign a two year deal with Toronto. And I can't stand that he sought out Tragic Johnson for advice on the Lakers. Magic is a coward who quit on that franchise. Why would Kawhi want to work through him? I think much less of Kawhi this week than I did last week.

[Monster]

Which former Laker do you dislike more? Magic or Rambis?

[Lipoli390]

Which former Laker do you dislike more? Magic or Rambis?

Magic based on the event of the past few weeks - particularly what he did with that surprise press conference as well as the reports that came out about how poorly he treated staff in the organization. He's an arrogant SOB with a big smile. I have a harder time disliking Rambis. He was in over his head and never should have been hired as our head coach. That's on David Kahn. Otherwise, he struck me as a nice guy. I had the chance to talk with him a couple time, including once after he was let go. He was really gracious and humble in my experience. He was just a really bad head coach.

[kekgeek]

I just really hope its not the Lakers, we are so close to a wide open NBA for the 1st time since really Lebron left the Cavs the 1st time.

[Lipoli390]

I just really hope its not the Lakers, we are so close to a wide open NBA for the 1st time since really Lebron left the Cavs the 1st time.

I agree. The best thing for the League would be Kawhi staying with Toronto or signing with the Clippers. If he stays with Toronto, the League will have a strong Eastern Conference rival for the Lakers. If he goes to the Clippers the League would have a fascinating intra-city rivalry in LA. If he goes to the Lakers, the League will have another LeBron-driving super team. Yuck.

[Coolbreeze44]

Which former Laker do you dislike more? Magic or Rambis?

No contest, Magic. I've actually disliked him since his early days as a player. Sometimes I can be a good judge of character.

[kekgeek]

I just really hope its not the Lakers, we are so close to a wide open NBA for the 1st time since really Lebron left the Cavs the 1st time.

I agree. The best thing for the League would be Kawhi staying with Toronto or signing with the Clippers. If he stays with Toronto, the League will have a strong Eastern Conference rival for the Lakers. If he goes to the Clippers the League would have a fascinating intra-city rivalry in LA. If he goes to the Lakers, the League will have another LeBron-driving super team. Yuck.

And its not even like the Lakers will be a lock because all three of those stars have an injury history now (Leborn just starting to show one). But it will ruin basketball coverage, all the talk will be on them. We would be looking a at least some balance. Can GS compete with DLO/Curry/Steph/Green, how does LBJ and Davis mesh with min guys, Can Kawhi lead the Raptors to back to back championships, how does the 76ers big lineup look, the young Pelicans, Doncic and Porzingas who does that look, can Giannis get into all time great convo, does Kyrie blow up another team, Do the Celtics young guys take a step forward with a perceived better locker-room. How does the Jazz look with ton of above average almost all star players.

But if Kawhi goes to LA non of that matters, it will be 90% Lakers talk.