Or he doesn't hold as much leverage as he thinks and SA wants to send him into NBA irrelevance while getting prospects back in return. Just interesting that Vegas is in on something.
It means Vegas thinks Kawhi is more likely to end up in Orlando than San Antonio next season. What it's based on--- your guess is as good as any. We have never heard them mentioned before.
If Spurs are going to trade him I don’t see a better destination than Sixers. The only way he’s not going to end up there is if he specifically tells Sixers he doesn’t want to play for them and won’t resign there under any circumstances (then they just won’t offer the deal). Any combination of Saric, Covington, Fultz, Smith and Miami 2021 unprotected pick would work. I don’t think they will have to offer all five assets, I think three or maximum four will suffice. I don’t think Zhaire will be included - he was almost certainly selected to replace Covington who will be put in package to make salaries match. I am not sure they will want to include Fultz but will probably have to - maybe they can manage to avoid including Dario but I also think Spurs will want him pretty badly. Also, Spurs won 47 games last season basically without Kawhi. Add Saric, Covington and healthy Fultz (plus Lonnie Walker who should be ready to play from the go) to that line up and I don’t see how they don’t win 52 minimum, probably 55+, plus they have a couple of long term building blocks plus a potentially great pick in what could become a properly stacked class if high schoolers are allowed to enter that year (won’t be before that year so it will be a double draft, even a late lottery pick could be worth a haul and Miami could be a very high pick).
If you were Philly, wouldn't you rather go after LBJ with the same package though? And what if Leonard insists on going to L@kers . . . http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ycjkvt22
But the Sixers wouldn't need to give those assets if LBJ opted out of his contract and become a UFA, no?
This actually seems like a trade that should be considered by both sides regardless of what else happens. Gives Philly a veteran scorer, and gives Portland immediate help at the wing and upside at the guard spot.
We already have a project at the guard spot. We’d essentially be switching CJ for Covington. No thanks.
Can I quote you on that in a few years? Fultz has a bit more promise than a project. At a minimum I would expect CJ plus defense.
Fultz will be just as good or better than CJ by year 3/4 imo. Unfortunately I don’t believe CJ has the tools to become much more than a below average defender.
Project meaning young guy that hasn’t proven anything yet. Where would fultz play exactly? Why would he deserve to start? He hasn’t even proven he can shoot a basketball properly. I’m not gonna make a judgement on Simons’ game, just because I haven’t seen him play, but I will say his mentality impresses me more than Fultz’
I disagree. Fultz hasn't proven anything other than that he has a weak enough mindset to completely forget how to shoot a basketball. Red flag. The grass isn't always greener. 29 other teams would love having CJ on their squad.