NBA Off-Season Discussion

[Nik]

Russ Westbrook to the Rockets for Chris Paul, 2 1sts and a couple of pick swaps.

In a way this trade makes sense for both teams and makes absolutely no sense for either team. How Harden and Westbrook are going to play together is beyond me.

[L K]

All inclusive on Paul George, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

Harden (+Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward) for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, 2 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick
Westbrook for Chris Paul, 2 1st round picks and 2 1st round pick swaps
George for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari 5 1st round picks and 2 1st round pick swaps
Kevin Durant for nothing through free agency

OKC Trades - Paul George, James Harden, Russel Westbrook, Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich and Lazar Hayward
OKC Received - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Chris Paul, Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, 1st round pick (Steven Adams), 1st round pick (Mitch McGary), 2nd round pick (Alex Abrines), Miami 1st (2021 Unprotected), Clippers 1st (2022 Unprotected), Miami 1st (2023 Lottery Protected), Clippers 1st (2024 Unprotected), Houston 1st (2024 1-4 protected), Clippers 1st (2026 Unprotected), Houston 1st (2026 1-4 protected), Houston Pick Swap (2021, can swap their worst pick, 1-4 protected), Clippers Pick Swap (2023 Unprotected), Clippers Pick Swap (2025 Unprotected), Houston Pick Swap (2025 1-20 protected)

Pretty solid haul for 4 star players.  9 1st round picks and 4 pick swaps.

[Nik]

Imagine drafting Durant, Westbrook and Harden back-to-back-to-back and not winning a title though.

[Deebo]

They did give up Oladipo and Sabonis to get George in the first place though.

[hockeyfan1]

Long story short, it reads like a roll call.

[tweet]1149478756404170753[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

How interesting the Kawhi behind-the-scenes saga:

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst on his Hoop Collective Podcast (h/t NBC Sports' Dan Feldman), the Los Angeles Lakers are upset because they feel like "they got played" by Leonard.

Windhorst noted the Toronto Raptors were also unhappy because Leonard "came in and asked for the sun, the moon, the stars then left them at the altar."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2846249-windhorst-lakers-feel-they-got-played-in-kawhi-leonard-free-agency-pursuit


It was also reported by The Athletic that even though Kawhi had his sites set on playing for the Clippers long before he was traded to the Raptors, being closer to home was not the #1 factor in his decision-making.  Winning a championship trumped the above.

Also, probably the fact that Kawhi had in mind all along of joining the Clippers after having won the Championship as a Toronto Raptor, he valued privacy and trust and in the morass of the media narrative & rumours, the Clippers stood quiet, working behind the scenes figuring out their next move.  The ultra-quietness and silence on Kawhi's part was in sync with the Clippers organization during the FA and negotiations period.

https://theathletic.com/1086977/2019/07/23/inside-story-los-angeles-la-clippers-pursuit-of-kawhi-leonard-paul-george/


One had to say this about Leonard's advisor, his uncle Dennis Robertson:

Robertson has a reputation for being hard to deal with and would have been hands on throughout the process. According to sources, Leonard and his camp – namely Uncle Dennis – asked for a lot from the Raptors in that meeting, things players don't generally ask for in standard contract negotiations.

In some cases, they were asking for things that Ujiri – one of the most well-compensated executives in the league – wouldn't have even had at his disposal. Their requests were "unreasonable", a source said, which made the Raptors wonder whether Leonard was seriously considering them at all.

This new bit of information adds further merit to theories pertaining to Kawhi's extremely well-orchestrated delaying tactics. If this is true, then it seems that Leonard never really wanted to re-sign with the Raptors, and that he was just waiting for the Clippers to be able to make their big move for Paul George before making his own move official.

https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-rumors-kawhi-leonard-camp-made-unreasonable-requests-during-free-agent-meeting/

[Nik]

So Kawhi said some nice things at his introductory press conference about the Raptors which, while meaningless ultimately, I think still trumped one of those things in the Player's Tribune that was clearly written by a PR person. Seemed true to who he is as a weirdo.

[hockeyfan1]

Kawhi also called the parade  "best parade ever."

[tweet]1154114856053686272[/tweet]

When interviewed, he said this:

[tweet]1154165238628900865[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

Looks like Durant is unforgiving. 

N.B.  He stated, reportedly, with a smirk.

[tweet]1159228931704315904[/tweet][/u]

[hockeyfan1]

Kawhi's buzzer beater in Game 7 over the '76ers named NBA play of the year.


https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-names-kawhi-leonards-raptors-sixers-serieswinner-play-of-the-season-215329589.html

[hockeyfan1]

The NBA's tenth female assistant, Britnii Donaldson to join Raptors organization:

[tweet]1170365506857123840[/tweet]

[hockeyfan1]

Raptors Uliri talks Kawhi & Obama:

On Kawhi:

"There was plenty part of him that wanted to stay," Ujiri said in an interview with CBC. "Winning, the city, medical, there are so many things I could tell...

"He won in the city, had one of the greatest shots in NBA history, the fans, an unbelievable parade. I know Kawhi, I know he really thought about all those things."

On Obama's attendance at a Raptors playoff game:

Hosting Obama in Toronto for an NBA Finals game was a career highlight for Ujiri. The 49-year-old executive was proud to showcase the city's love for basketball and it created a memory he'll hold dear to his heart forever.

"It was a huge deal. I've always told him how big it is in Canada. The reception he got was incredible, it shows how much people love him everywhere," Ujiri said. "To actually experience the game in Canada, in Scotiabank Arena, to have him there, I'll be proud of that for the rest of my life, it is something I'll never ever forget."

Story:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/masai-ujiri-plenty-part-of-kawhi-wanted-to-stay-with-raptors-182141896.html