travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Part of me wants to see what happens if Kawhi joins the Lakers and they fill out the roster with hungry D-leaguers.
NBA 2019-20: Fresh Champs, Fresh Faces, Fresh Places!
- Thread starter stringertom
- Start date
NonP
Legend
Board Man Gets Parade:
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/kawhi-board-man-gets-paid-raptors-parade-nba-finals-mvp-152758470.html
Watch his reaction to Lowry's "Five More Years" counter-chant. Grins all around.
Take it from a fellow introvert: there's a difference between being humble IRL and refusing to strut your full stuff on the job. At this point Leonard need not play second fiddle to anybody, and he knows it.
For the record Kawhi's reportedly preferred destination is the Clippers, not the Lakers, but yes, he'd be wise to stay and grow with the Raptors whose front office has shown that it's not afraid to make bold moves where necessary. Of course that may change if Ujiri decides to take the sweet deal from the Wizards (my home team, mind you), which tells me they now have more than one guy to convince to stick around.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/kawhi-board-man-gets-paid-raptors-parade-nba-finals-mvp-152758470.html
Watch his reaction to Lowry's "Five More Years" counter-chant. Grins all around.
Take it from a fellow introvert: there's a difference between being humble IRL and refusing to strut your full stuff on the job. At this point Leonard need not play second fiddle to anybody, and he knows it.
For the record Kawhi's reportedly preferred destination is the Clippers, not the Lakers, but yes, he'd be wise to stay and grow with the Raptors whose front office has shown that it's not afraid to make bold moves where necessary. Of course that may change if Ujiri decides to take the sweet deal from the Wizards (my home team, mind you), which tells me they now have more than one guy to convince to stick around.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm assuming Ujiri stays.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
And stays out of jail, too!
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
Lakers will have 32.5 m to sign Kawhi by July 30th.
Leonard expressed his interest to be a Laker last year, so he is absolutely ok to play alongside LeBaron. Adding unibrow is not negative either.
Leonard expressed his interest to be a Laker last year, so he is absolutely ok to play alongside LeBaron. Adding unibrow is not negative either.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Only if push comes to shoveAnd stays out of jail, too!
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
I think Kawhi stays in TOR and they never make the finals again.
I think Ujiri takes the wizards job if the 10 mill a year and ownership stake are true.
But thinking about LAL with KL, Bron, and AD. That team would have best ever 74-8 undefeated playoff run in them. Defensively you would get no open looks and not all three of those guys will be off every night.
Melo hasn't officially retired so expect to see him suit for the vet minimum and be like late career Juwan Howard
I think Kemba decides an extra 30 mill aint worth it to fight for an 8 seed every year and goes to LAL. that team is still nasty but all time best single season nasty. Still would be title front runners though. Ironically Ball would probably be better with AD, Brion, and Kawhi than Kuzma. Ball is pretty big a decent enough defender and his shot would go down a lot more when he's the 4th or 5th guy worried about shooting. I just don't know what Kuzma is going to do except be traded later for some other vet chasing title.
I think Ujiri takes the wizards job if the 10 mill a year and ownership stake are true.
But thinking about LAL with KL, Bron, and AD. That team would have best ever 74-8 undefeated playoff run in them. Defensively you would get no open looks and not all three of those guys will be off every night.
Melo hasn't officially retired so expect to see him suit for the vet minimum and be like late career Juwan Howard
I think Kemba decides an extra 30 mill aint worth it to fight for an 8 seed every year and goes to LAL. that team is still nasty but all time best single season nasty. Still would be title front runners though. Ironically Ball would probably be better with AD, Brion, and Kawhi than Kuzma. Ball is pretty big a decent enough defender and his shot would go down a lot more when he's the 4th or 5th guy worried about shooting. I just don't know what Kuzma is going to do except be traded later for some other vet chasing title.
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
I don't have a meem ready for the I see what you did there. But..
I see what you did there
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Tough to be a Floor General
clout
Hall of Fame
In the 1940's, the MLB team, Chicago Cubs, kicked a goat out of their stadium and the goat's owner said similar things how the Cubs made a horrible mistake and that they'll never win another title...and they didn't until 2016
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FRV
Guest
It would be utter domination
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Now, locally, folks borrow goats to mow lawns
NonP
Legend
In Case You Missed It.
Kawhi trolled everyone who made fun of his laugh at the parade today.
Damn you just beat me to it. No fair! So let me just say... don't miss Green's coiffure.
And the latest scuttlebutt:
Canucks must be feeling pretty high right now!!!
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Not after that Parade
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah I saw that video with Cris Carter, and apparently him and Leonard share an agent or so I heard. I won't be happy until Kawhi resigns, but I think we can rule out the Knicks. They never get anyone. Garbage organization. And we can probably rule out the Nets too. I think it's actually more likely down to 3 teams.
NonP
Legend
Board Man Gets Parade's Last Laugh!!!
Soon after posting that I saw it came from Cris Carter so you can't put much stock in it to begin with (regardless of whether he and KL share an agent). Agree both NY teams are long shots.
And gotta say I'm chuckling at these prognostications of the Lakers as the current faves to win next year. Apparently people have already forgotten that this quad just failed to make the playoffs even with LBJ on board and Magic couldn't even wait till the end of the season to spurn them in a stunningly public exit that reportedly left everyone at the organization off guard. Not to mention the rest of the roster still consists mostly of scrubs. Maybe they'll get Kawhi and manage to get past the 1st round, but we'll see.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
With Kawhi who are the guards?
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
"Has until June 29 to exercise $21.5 Million option".
Is there any circumstance where Kawhi exercises player option and does not become a free agent?...
If he does become a free agent, Raptors can then offer him a max contract? Cannot see Kawhi walking away from that.
OTOH, he may really have a strong preference for living in his native L.A....
That is understandable. Toronto and L.A. are very different type of cities to be living in. And being a hero in Canada still does
not quite compare to the media attention he will get in L.A.
Is there any circumstance where Kawhi exercises player option and does not become a free agent?...
If he does become a free agent, Raptors can then offer him a max contract? Cannot see Kawhi walking away from that.
OTOH, he may really have a strong preference for living in his native L.A....
That is understandable. Toronto and L.A. are very different type of cities to be living in. And being a hero in Canada still does
not quite compare to the media attention he will get in L.A.
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NonP
Legend
Depends on who/what they'd need to give up, of course. As of now LA's backcourt consists of Rondo, Lance, Isaac Bonga, Reggie Bullock, Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Assuming Kawhi stays in Toronto or moves next door they're not going far next year even with AD unless both Rondo and Lance somehow turn back the clock, and I definitely don't see 'em winning the whole thing.
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
Raptors can offer only 3 m more per year but they can sign him for 5 years instead of 4 like other teams. That is an insurance in case he gets injured again.
There is also a middle way which is 1+1 (player option). After one year he can get a better contract either with Toronto or somewhere else.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Kawhi will sign for four minimum, five maximum. That quad was strained by playing 24 playoff games without the regular season time rationing and it became plainly obvious in the last two games of The Finals. There’s no way his agent would OK a 1-year player option and risk the boomerang of something happening before a long term contract is inked.
I’m still curious about the real money involved when the player has to pay Canadian tax on top of his own personal U.S. income tax. I assume all contracts are written and paid in U.S. dollars so Kawhi could technically be almost a $300million (Canadian) bonus baby if he stays.
I’m still curious about the real money involved when the player has to pay Canadian tax on top of his own personal U.S. income tax. I assume all contracts are written and paid in U.S. dollars so Kawhi could technically be almost a $300million (Canadian) bonus baby if he stays.
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FRV
Guest
I kind of want to see Kawhi go to the Lakers. I want him to win another chip next year.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Sorry, but please don’t sell LAC short if they were to sign Kawhi. They jettisoned their “superstar” mid-season (Harris) to open up cap space and fleece Elton Brand of young talent (Shamet) and a trading chip (Muscala) that they pawned off on Magic/Pelinka for a better player (Zubac). They are deep, tough and hungry to surround two stars (yes, they have that cap room after shearing Griffin, Jordan and Harris in the last two seasons). If they connect on both big deals they should be even stronger than LBJ/AD. They’re also starting much further ahead, having made the playoffs and taking two from GSW before the KD injury.
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FRV
Guest
I'm not saying he wouldn't have a chance anywhere else. I'd just rather him go where he has the best chance.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Kawhi to the Lakers would be way too boring. The team would dominate and win a title pretty easily IMO. Not something I personally would look forward to at all. The only thing saving me is that I probably won't watch it or get to watch it because the Lakers are West coast and I'm very far east. I can't speak for everyone of course.
Maybe it would be good for the NBA because the Lakers are so popular, but I can't imagine a majority of NBA fans would enjoy the Lakers being the next super team. Super teams in general should be outlawed, especially in basketball where one superstar can make the biggest difference to a team as opposed to the other 3 NA sports. Of course it's all about money so it doesn't really matter what I think to the NBA, but I don't think KD should've been allowed to go to GS. It was such a cop out move anyway, after OKC lost to them. And before that, the Heat recruiting (putting it nicely) Lebron and Bosh was way over the top.
My only satisfaction in all this super team nonsense is that, in this era at least, Lebron started it, and then got burned more than once losing NBA Finals after that ridiculous pyro/lightshow garbage all those years ago. Looked really good on him. His 2016 title deserves full credit, but the fact that he only won 2 with that Heat team makes me laugh every time I think about it.
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hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
I'm also curious but cant find definitive info but I'm pretty confident it work something like this. Non Canadian residents still pay Canadian taxes on income earned in the country (even visiting players). Top tax bracket in CA pays 33% federal (37 for US) and then the province also taxes like a state would. For Toronto the info I can find is it totals about 50%. Which is about Cali level (37 US tax 13 Cali tax). So between LA and TOR it should be negligible.
The debate stems from the difference of players in the tax free states. NBA it is just Texas and FLA. Alaska, Tennesee (mostly), Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming are the other income tax free states.
But even then they are taxed 37 % US rate regardless. So the absolute most it could be is a 13% higher tax for the CA/TOR guys opposed to Texas/FLA guys. But these guys pay taxes based on where they earn the income so when a FLA guy plays in LA they are charged CA tax for those games. So while its not a full 13% they have to pay some income tax to states which lessens the pay difference.
When Wade, Bron, and Bosh signed the deals with the heat in 2010 it was reported they each left 15 mill on table over the 6 year contract. They basically signed matching 6/110 mill offers (18.3 a year average) as opposed to 6/125 (20.8). That 2.5 million a year difference is probably the amount they saved on their tax bill by living and playing in FLA.
But Kawhi aint rumored to be playing in Texas or FLA so his Tax bill wont be much different between LA and TOR.
I do know back in the Vancouver Grizzly days the big talk was the exchange rate screwing guys over. It was 1.5 back then and at one point around 08 was even now its back up to 1.3 and trending upwards. So in the future that may come back. I have no idea how exchange rates work though. The year I spent in Korea (did not have to pay MD income tax) I knew a dollar would get me how ever many Won the rate was and then I could buy stuff. It never changed by enough to make a difference. But an E4 in the airforce doesn't exactly have the buying power of NBA dudes. That Won still got me plenty drunk though
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
Horford reportedly to turn down his 30 mill player option and become unrestricted free agent. My guess is Celtics already have a longer term deal at slightly less than max lined up for him
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
People and so called experts talk as if Leonard came to a lottery team and made them champions. Raptors were eliminated only by LeBron in recent years and they had the best record in the east last year. This year's roster had extras like Gasol, Green, improved Siakam and VV. In 2014 he had a great team around him as well. He was the best player in both teams but it takes a very good team to win a championship. I don't think other players are given credit enough.
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
I agree that the Leonard hype is maybe discrediting the rest of the team a bit. They were not early Cavs teams or the Love/Irving less Cavs Lebron lost to GSW in the finals for. The defense would not have improved without the Gasol trade as well.
But without Leonard they don't win the title, and I doubt they beat Philly to get to the Bucks.
NonP
Legend
Apparently the best shirt at the parade didn't belong to Kawhi:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/06/jo...-shirt-kawhi-leonard-buzzer-beater-parade-nba
And the latest Kawhi scuttlebutt per Woj:
Call me crazy but I trust Woj (albeit apparently without sources this time) more than anyone on Fox.
That's true about pretty much every superstar, though. Just look at the ridiculous hype around the Fakers right now, even though they still don't have anyone that can shoot and are likely missing at least one or two big pieces.
Also you forgot Lowry. They don't win this championship without him, and good for him after a history of underperforming in the money season.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/06/jo...-shirt-kawhi-leonard-buzzer-beater-parade-nba
And the latest Kawhi scuttlebutt per Woj:
Call me crazy but I trust Woj (albeit apparently without sources this time) more than anyone on Fox.
That's true about pretty much every superstar, though. Just look at the ridiculous hype around the Fakers right now, even though they still don't have anyone that can shoot and are likely missing at least one or two big pieces.
Also you forgot Lowry. They don't win this championship without him, and good for him after a history of underperforming in the money season.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Free tacos!
The Golden State Warriors lost the NBA Finals, but they’ve made everyone a winner by scoring for fans on both sides of the court.
Visit any Taco Bell nationwide between 2 and 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, and you can pick up a free Doritos Locos Taco.
The Golden State Warriors lost the NBA Finals, but they’ve made everyone a winner by scoring for fans on both sides of the court.
Visit any Taco Bell nationwide between 2 and 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, and you can pick up a free Doritos Locos Taco.
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donquijote
G.O.A.T.
I did not but I did not want mention of him only. I have huge respect to this guy. He's been the most beaten up player throughout the years and yet he focused on business even after losing his best friend and with the help of Kawhi and others, he gave the best answer to the critics. He was the best player on the floor in the last match.
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FRV
Guest
Rooting Order for next season:
1. Celtics
2. Rockets (Harden's team)
3. Kawhi's team
4. Pelicans (Lavar's team)
5. Lakers if not already at #3 (Lebron's team)
1. Celtics
2. Rockets (Harden's team)
3. Kawhi's team
4. Pelicans (Lavar's team)
5. Lakers if not already at #3 (Lebron's team)
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stringertom
Bionic Poster
Plus or minus hospitalizations for food poisoning vs lead poisoning in Toronto by attending the championship parade? Taco Bell needs five victims to get the over.Free tacos!
The Golden State Warriors lost the NBA Finals, but they’ve made everyone a winner by scoring for fans on both sides of the court.
Visit any Taco Bell nationwide between 2 and 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, and you can pick up a free Doritos Locos Taco.
#ActLikeYou’veBeenThereBefore!OhWait!YouHaven’t
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
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donquijote
G.O.A.T.
I lost my interest to tennis this year. Nothing exciting is happening really. Even in personal life I prefer playing basketball.
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
Not so much fun to play when your PG is a ball hog though. I have Euro background and find most players lacking team mentality here in Canada. It's most fun when you play with Eastern Europeans as most of them know the game and have better fundamentals.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
You could tell from VanVleets comments a few days ago that Kwahi was leaving. "Well we have done all that we could do. Now we wait and see. The rest is up to him. He owes us nothing...".
In addition, there is just no way you play an entire season and playoffs and win the finals and all the emotional ups and downs that entails, without giving an indication (either directly or indirectly) to your teammates in the locker room regarding your intentions and which way you're leaning.
Not even a humanoid like Kwahi could conceal his preferences.
His teammates know.
In addition, there is just no way you play an entire season and playoffs and win the finals and all the emotional ups and downs that entails, without giving an indication (either directly or indirectly) to your teammates in the locker room regarding your intentions and which way you're leaning.
Not even a humanoid like Kwahi could conceal his preferences.
His teammates know.
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Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Toronto should have given away free food in celebration. What kind of food do Canadians like?
Are there even any Taco bells up there?
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Heaven Ain't A Playground,
dParis
Hall of Fame
I like how Conley is excited to be going to "the city of Utah!".
F
FRV
Guest
Looks like Horford is leaving the Celtics.
