Rumor Mill-Kawhi Upset-Possible Trade Request

Hey all, I'm sure you're all familiar with Charles from Dreamer's Pro. I was watching his video yesterday, and he commented on Skip Bayless' podcast. Apparently, Skip was told by people in LA that Kawhi is upset by what he perceives as (1) the Clippers staff rushing him back from injury, and (2) unfair criticism toward his injury and load managing situation. Apparently, this is leading to Kawhi possibly requesting a trade. If what Skip says is true, this could very well be the San Antonio Spurs situation all over again.

Hope its true. Trade him!

I thought the same thing. I'm sick of the way things continue to end each season with him. However, if this would be true, I think it would drive some of the last hold outs in our fan base that want to "run it back."

I lost patience seeing them (both KL and PG) on the sidelines with a stoic face. I am all in to trade both of them only if we get nice picks and younger talent. We should then flip those picks and package them for other established younger stars. I just want them to be in a position to contend perennially and not in rebuild mode. Can't stand watching the LAL when our guys are fishing.

In all fairness..Memphis was banged up. A healthy Memphis squad destroys the Lakers.

good , He needs to be glad he is even getting paid for his ( (no time load time )!!!! San Antonio was right and POP to !! by by trade him to Detroit or better yet to the Nets and piss off knicks fans …. he is very childish sorry i don't blame fans / management busting his balls to play ( hello that is why you get paid , to play !!!! wow trade him asap. go get 3 or 4 players with the heart and hustle of Westbrook!!

I think when Lawrence Frank said "We are going to take the regular season seriously," I think that revealed a lot of the frustration with the current situation of t throwing in the towel during the regular season and focusing only on the post season.

I've said this all before, but I'll add more info. I wouldn't mind trading Kawhi Leonard to Orlando for their #6 lottery pick this year, their 2024 first-round draft pick (lottery-protected), and Jonathan Isaac's expiring contract. This helps the Clippers in their attempt to re-sign Russell Westbrook. Just as importantly, it puts the Clippers in a position to draft 6'7" SG/SF Ausar Thompson.

Here's a great article on Amen and Ausar Thompson:

The Twins Who Went From “Best-Kept Secrets” to Likely NBA Lottery Picks

https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2023/3/28/23657469/amen-ausar-thompson-twins-2023-nba-draft-overtime-elite

Here is a Youtube video of Ausar Thompson that shows his strengths and weaknesses:

His shooting needs work, but that's where bringing in a coach like Kenny Atkinson helps. Atkinson helped turn Terance Mann into a reliable shooter, and Ausar Thompson shows the work ethic to improve.

Leonard can guarantee load management missing all back to back games. 50 games amd, missing the P O's. He has a huge contract and he can walk after next year.. I think it was during the bubble that team mates were complaining that he would do things like arrive late and hold up the plane.and do other similar sh*t.. He should retire,

Why in the world would anybody want him?. I'd rather have Normal Powell.However when Frank was talking about respecting the regular season he's obviously talking about KL although his injuries were severe.

Hell yeah! Go back to the youth movement.

I'm looking at a team like Orlando, which already has a plethora of young talent: Pablo Banchero (22), Jalen Suggs (21), Wendall Carter, Jr. (24), Markelle Fulz (24), Bol Bol (23), Franz Wagner (21), and Caleb Houstan (20). A player like Kawhi Leonard would never sign voluntarily with Orlando. But adding him to the team, even with load management and injuries, probably helps Orlando make the playoffs. That's an invaluable experience for their young core.

Cost would be high for the #6 pick (and a possible future first-rounder), but Orlando could recoup some of that investment by trading Kawhi Leonard later.

In a way, it is and in a way, it isn't. Trading Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, and Amir Coffey gets rid of load management and makes it possible to re-sign Russell Westbrook, who was the heart and soul of this team.

Our starting lineup would be Nicolas Batum, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Eric Gordon, and Russell Westbrook.

Our second unit would be Noah Clowney, Terance Mann, Mason Plumlee, Ausar Thompson, and Bones Hyland.

Filling out the roster would be Moussa Diabate, Emoni Bates, Adem Bona, Brandon Boston, Jr., and Jason Preston.

Eric Gordon's contract expires next year. Ausar Thompson moves into the starting line-up with Brandon Boston, Jr. moving to the second unit. Noah Clowney replaces Nicolas Batum's starting position. In a few years, Adem Bona eventually replaces Mason Plumlee as our backup center.

All BS aside, and after that Lawrence Frank post season press conference, it sounded like that only hope for this team is them resigning Russ so that his hard work, high motor, and leadership is with us at the start of the season instead of at the end like how it was this past season. Frank said "we need to get the trust back with our fans and that means taking the regular season serious again." WTF does that even mean and how is it even possible with Kawhi as the face of the franchise? The guy that won't talk,....

I think Frank's remark was directed at Ty Lue

Everybody's talking about trades and youth movement. First Ty said he wanted Russ but hinted that Russ might make more money somewhere else which to me is diplomatic way of saying that we will keep him on the cheap.

What do you guys think is REALLY going to happen? It ain't youth. Do you guys really think we will make a bunch of trades?. K L can opt in on his contract next year. Who is going to want a guy who should retire and can screw them for an extra year? I wouldn't touch K L with a cattle prod. Why are you guys complaining when you should have known what you would get when we signed him. Immaturity. Again this is not what I want. I want to go young but I'm not in the Kool aide mood.

Does Mann deserve more minutes? He doesn't have the handles for a point guard and he's not a great shooter or a playmaker. Unless Boston can play PG I question him, Can he guard a big SG? Switch him on to Luca. .His defense ain't great. I have not been inpressed with Diamante. They are bench guys at best. .We should have traded K L for Tyler Herro and picks after the bubble. Let him play with Butler.. My jerk o*f prediction was right..Ballmer's decision- do you bet on PG/KL's health. I would get the best assessment of KL's knee then a second, maybe third opinion before any trade talk.

He did the same poo poo last year hinting about Miami.

Please don't trade Kawhi Leonard.

If this were Upside Down World where I was okay with it... it would have to be a reverse Derozan trade that includes Lonzo, Dalen Terry (Bear Down), and additional draft capital.

Kawhi wants one more contract extension. If he has any chance, he's gotta play pretty well next year, whether as a Clipper or elsewhere. Uncle Dennis isn't dumb, he'll tell Kawhi he can't half-ass it.

Unlikely the Heat advance with Butler's injury. I'd be interested with a Herro / Duncan Robinson package for Kawhi. They might pull the trigger if Jimmy is pissed.

All the teams we used to be scared of in the West have gotten old. Warriors are ok, Lakers are ok, Suns are ok. A decent team can make it out.

He has had a torn ACL and a torn meniscus on the same knee. even after "load Management" which probably wasn't necessary.. The chances are not insignifigant that he will seriously re injure that same knee. He has played 161 games., 50 ish for three years and zero for one.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/how-many-games-has-kawhi-played-for-clippers

Is this a guy to build a winning team around? This year it wasn't from injuries it was "load management that cost us ranking. I would trade him. I think F O will talk about Load Management and if they agree he will stay.Again it's a gamble. For a ring you have nothing to lose by keeping him. because we can't get somebody of his calibre.

bye bye Kawhi ….. Clippers should move on period.

I'm not worried about the ACL injury. It's the hyaline cartilage that I'm worried about. How large of a section was torn? Medial vs lateral. Where is the tear in relation to the bone-on-bone impact, which would be an issue in the future? Microfractures are tough, and meniscus tears are really tough. They just can't be repaired, rehabbed, and ready. There's no known manmade substance ever created that can duplicate the level of congruence created by hyaline cartilage. You only get one shot with this thing, just ask Brandon Roy. Fingers crossed for Kawhi. I don't want to trade him because I think we've come too far. We've waited 4 years. I think a 5th will be fine, but we need Kawhi and PG back. If they don't deliver next year, then at least one of them needs to be forced to use those Player Options. I'd rather cross that bridge when it comes. For now, I want to keep our 2 stars plus Norm, find a way to keep Russ home this summer, and start machine gun trading for new younger players in the 23-30 range (Depending on whether they're a Starter or Bench player). You and I used to argue and go round n' round about Rookies like Shai n' JRob, but I think you were right. One thing I'll always push back on is that I still think Rookies should be thought of as contributors (role players), like Christian Braun and Keegan Murray. But I also see now why teams don't play them very often unless they aren't any good (Houston Rockets). Rookies generally suck in defensive rotation. They don't close quarters, halves, and games well. Rookies make untimely bad....

As a HYPOTHETICAL if the salary cap affects nothing what is everybody's goal for next year? Any trade could make this team less competitive in the short run. People want trades but if they make us better when will they? Will we have a chance at the WCF with trades again assuming as a hypothetical that money doesn't count?

Not an argument, a question

I think there are many moves to be made. Even if the front office decides to run it back(which I am against-for the record), we need to evaluate who did not meet expectations. First and foremost, Morris Sr. needs to be traded. Batum also did not do well, so I'm not going to object if we get rid of him either. Also, I think Ty Lue needs to go. His constant DNP of Roco, constant use of Morris, and low minutes for Mann were blatantly stupid decisions. These are three things that need to happen if the FO decides to run it back.

Mike Budenholzer is fired by Milwaukee.

Exactly why does Ty Lue still have a job?

Steve Ballmer's silence is deafening. If he said, "We'll run it back," he gives instant validation and credibility to Lawrence Frank and Ty Lue. Because there's such a sound of silence, I'm thinking that he's waiting for Bob Myers's decision. No doubt that Dennis Wong has acted as an intermediary and told Bob Myers that Steve Ballmer is willing to make him the NBA's highest-paid executive. It depends on whether Golden State wants to match him and whether or not he wants to remain with Golden State.

Steph Curry could retire in a few years, but he could easily lead Golden State to a few more rings. Once Steph Curry retires, though, will Bob Myers want to be around for a rebuild? Chicago hasn't been relevant since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls in 1998. San Antonio hasn't been relevant since 2016 when Tim Duncan retired. Golden State has Bob Myers's ready-made replacement with Larry Harris (Del Harris's son) to become Team President/GM and Mike Dunleavy, Jr. to become Assistant GM. Plus, Joe Lacob's sons will be ready to take over.

As I've said before, if Bob Myers comes in, let him bring in his own head coach, Kenny Atkinson, and get rid of the last remnants of the Doc Rivers Regime.

Favorite Teams to Sign Russell Westbrook Revealed

https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/favorite-teams-to-sign-russell-westbrook-revealed

According to Thompson and his projections, the Clippers are the favorites to re-sign Russell Westbrook this summer, followed by the Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat.

Unless Westbrook is willing to take a significant discount, the Clippers will have to get creative with their cap situation in order to make him a competitive offer. It is not impossible for the Clippers to clear that space, but it would require some significant roster reshuffling. That said, the Clippers were likely entering this offseason with a plan to making some roster changes anyways, and could find an avenue to clearing space to re-sign Westbrook in the process.

Obviously, there would be some dominos that would fall and they will play their cards carefully. There would be some teams that want to remake rosters and get rid of players or some stars who want to be traded. The bottom line for the Clippers should be to get healthier, younger and to be in a position to contend.

As I've stated before, this is how the Clippers clear cap space for Russell Westbrook. This is assuming that no team will take Marcus Morris, Sr.'s $17 mil contract.

Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard ($45.6 mil) and Amir Coffey ($3.6 mil) to Orlando for First rounder #6 ($6.6 mil), a future first-rounder, and Jonathan Isaac's expiring $17.4 mil contract.

Clippers trade Norman Powell ($18 mil) and Robert Covington ($11.7 mil) to Indiana for First rounders #26 ($2.3. mil) and #29 ($2.2 mil).

This enables the Clippers to get out from under the second apron of $175 mil and allows the Clippers to re-sign Mason Plumlee ($9 mil) and Russell Westbrook ($7 mil).

Clippers hold their breath and hope to draft 6'7" SG Ausar Thompson. Amen Thompson will go #4. Portland is slated to pick PF Jarace Walker at #5, but Portland plans on re-signing PF Jerami Grant to a big contract, so they may want Ausar Thompson instead.

Ausar Thompson is known for his defensive prowess and reminds me of Mikal Bridges with better ball-handling skills. He has a high IQ and a feel for the game. His shooting needs improvement, but he only recently started working out with a shooting coach. Big question about him is that he played for Overtime Elite, which is a 16-20-year-old league that is several notches below the G League.

Here he and Amen play against Collin Sexton and a few other NBA players.

You're not going to replace Kawhi Leonard, but bringing someone in who's reminiscent of Mikal Bridges is a good start.

I don’t think those trades are possible in that we have to take back equivalent salary, no? I looked to see if Kawhi trade would work but Orlando has to give us salary back.

These two teams are far enough under the salary cap limit to take on these salaries while giving minimal back. At the end of both deals, Orlando and Indiana would still be under the salary cap limit, while the Clippers would be under the second apron, freeing up their Taxpayer MLE to offer Russell Westbrook.

I'm not sure that Ausar Thompson will be available at #6, as I think Portland will draft him at #5. Clippers could potentially trade Kawhi Leonard to Portland to pair him with Damian Lillard, but they'd have to accept a sign-and-trade with Portland for Jerami Grant in order for the salaries to line up. I'm not sure if Portland's willing to give up #5 and Jerami Grant, and I'm not sure that the Clippers want to take on Jerami Grant's salary.

If the Clippers did that deal and added Jerami Grant, they'd have to drop Eric Gordon's non-guaranteed $20 mil contract in order to re-sign Russell Westbrook. That may not be the worst thing in the world as Gordon's minutes would then go to Terence Mann, Ausar Thompson, and Brandon Boston, Jr.

If I lived in a perfect world I'd like to draft both Amen and Ausar Thompson. That'd be a compelling story in the NBA. But to do that the Clippers would have to trade both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and then the total rebuild would be in.

I put the link on another post but they say that K L is very tradeablr. They gave him #8 in trade value

The team would be challenged 3-pt shooting-wise, but there'd be tons of flexibility.

Clippers would start Jerami Grant, Ausar Thompson, Ivica Zubac, Amen Thompson, and Russell Westbrook.

Reserves would be Nicolas Batum, Terance Mann, Mason Plumlee, Brandon Boston, Jr., and Bones Hyland.

Filling out the roster would be Moussa Diabate, Emoni Bates, Adem Bona, Xavier Moon, and Jason Preston.

Clippers could play Jerami Grant, Brandon Boston, Jr., Ivica Zubac, Ausar Thompson, and Amen Thompson.

Or Jerami Grant, Ausar Thompson, Ivica Zubac, Amen Thompson, and Bones Hyland.

Guys we are thinking like normal human beings. Ballmer is not. Prople like him refuse to lose.They don't lose. He bought this team to win a championship not to rebuild. Rebuilding is losing. Guys like him double down. Healthy this is the best team in the NBA

. This is probably totally irrelevant but he will no longer have a lease at Crypto and will have a positive cash flow or at least less of a negative from Omni. Will this offset tax??? I have no clue.

Windows ME, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Zune, and Windows Lumia Phone are a few of Steve Ballmer's failures when he was at Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft was the world's top technology, and he ceded control of that to Apple. Steve Ballmer is a CEO, and he's used to getting advice from his top advisors. That's why he listened to Jerry West in taking away Doc's power (until Doc was only a coach) and trading Chris Paul and Blake Griffin before it became too late.

That's why I think he's waiting on Bob Myers' decision, so they can team together and determine the future direction of this team. Lakers-Golden State is turning into alternate blowouts, so no telling who wins this series. If Golden State loses, it may hasten Bob Myers' departure.

Steve Ballmer is worth $96.4 billion. He bought this team to win a championship. He couldn't do so with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, so they were traded. If it's decided that he'll never win a championship with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George because every year one or both get injured in the playoffs, he'll trade them away based on recommendations by Bob Myers and Jerry West. We already know that Lawrence Frank thinks that they should keep everyone together, including the coach, but that's more to preserve the status quo, including, especially, his job.

OK

BTW KL whined about going to Miami last year.

I've changed the parameters of the trades.

Clippers trade Paul George to Charlotte for #4 (Amen Thompson) and Gordon Hayward's expiring contract.

Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard to Portland for #5 (Ausar Thompson) and Jerami Grant (sign-and-trade).

Clippers trade Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Indiana for #26 (Noah Clowney) and #29 (Adem Bona).

Clippers rescind Eric Gordon's non-guaranteed contract of $20 mil.

Clippers eat Gordon Hayward's $31 mil contract and Marcus Morris's $17 mil contract.

Clippers sign Mason Plumlee to $8.5 mil contract.

Clippers offer Russell Westbrook their MLE of $7 mil (with a player option). Next year Clippers will be under the salary cap and can offer him the full MLE of $11 mil.

Clippers trade Paul George to Charlotte for #4 (Amen Thompson) and Gordon Hayward's expiring contract.

Charlotte has talked about drafting Amen Thompson, but he plays the same position as LaMelo Ball. There's been talk about them drafting Jarace Walker instead. Here, Charlotte obtains Paul George, who is an eight-time NBA All-Star and six-time member of the All-NBA Team, as well as a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. Charlotte can't sign a player like that as a free agent. Better still, Paul George has shown that he'll re-sign with a small market like he did with Oklahoma City. On Charlotte, Paul George could replicate his near MVP season. If it doesn't work out, Charlotte can always trade him to New York, the Lakers, or Memphis, where someone suggested that Memphis trade Brandon Clarke, Tyus Jones, Steven Adams, a 2024 First-Round Pick (GSW via MEM), a 2026 First-Round Pick (MEM), and a 2028 First-Round Pick (MEM) for him.

Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard to Portland for #5 (Ausar Thompson) and Jerami Grant (sign-and-trade).

Kawhi Leonard gets united with Damian Lillard and attempts to win a ring with him. Portland shows its commitment to Damian Lillard. For Kawhi, Portland is a short plane ride to his home in San Diego. Clippers end up with both Thompson Twins and a starting PF in Jerami Grant.

I like it all for the Clippers. I just don't know if the other team's will do it. If Portland is finally at the point where they've given up trying to get a ring for Dame then they'll most likely pass on the Kawhi trade. Being in full rebuild probably means that they value the #5 pick, assuming it doesn't get better in the lottery, in which case they'll really value it.

Then you have to take into account where they stand if they want to keep Dame. Do you want to take on a disgruntled Kawhi, who'll probably pout about going to Portland and go into full load management mode? Even if they do, they probably don't like the prospect of losing Grant as well as the pick. That's going to be a tough sell but good thinking nonetheless. The Clips are going to have to me aggressive and deal with a lot of hang ups before getting something done

I like the Indiana idea as well but the Pacers are loaded with perimeter players. Hield, Nembhard, Duarte, Nesmith, Mathurin and so on and that's not counting the floor leaders in Haliburton and McConnell. I just don't see them taking on two more of those types and giving up draft capital as well. If they take on unwanted deals that would also be considered doing a favor to the Clippers being that they are cutting payroll, THEY will be the ones asking for draft capital in return for taking on dead salary weight. I see the Pacers taking on bigs from teams that are loaded with too many bigs in the frontcourt

I think Russ takes the mini mid level though. He's already made a ton of money, likes his situation here, is from here and isn't a good fit in any of the rebuilding cap space places

Clippers trade Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Indiana for #26 (Noah Clowney) and #29 (Adem Bona).

This is a necessary evil in order to get out from under the second apron and re-sign Russell Westbrook. Indiana gets two players who can help them make the playoffs. New York traded Cam Reddish, Svi Mykhailiuk, Ryan Arcidiacono, and a #15 first-round pick, so first-rounders #26 and #29 are a small price to pay. Clippers draft 6'10" PF Noah Clowney and 6'10" Adem Bona, who are both shot blockers. Amen and Ausar Thompson are also shot blockers, so the Clippers will get the chance to get out and run.

Clippers rescind Eric Gordon's non-guaranteed contract of $20 mil.

Necessary evil in order to get out from under the second apron. Eric Gordon's minutes go to Terance Mann, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, and Brandon Boston, Jr.

Clippers eat Gordon Hayward's $31 mil contract and Marcus Morris's $17 mil contract.

Clippers could keep Gordon Hayward, but he'd take minutes away from our younger players. It's time for Marcus Morris, Sr. to go and no other team will want to take on his salary. These two moves open up roster spots on the Clippers.

Clippers sign Mason Plumlee to $8.5 mil contract.

Clippers offer Russell Westbrook their MLE of $7 mil (with a player option). Next year Clippers will be under the salary cap and can offer him the full MLE of $11 mil.

These two moves keep core players with the Clippers.

The more the Lakers win, the more I am hating our load managing duos!!! They shamelessly suck the major portion of the teams salary cap and sit like limpets on the bench!!!

Amen brother BUT even though we could have gotten a higher seed without Load Management, Why aren't we playing now.? Injuries not related to load management. PG 13 twisted his knee in a fall and KL bumped his knee and played thorough it for the rest of the game until the correct diagnosis was made. Why is everybody complaining?

Knee injuries are nasty. What happens is that you compensate for the injured knee and injure the other one.

It's called Clipper Luck What other team than this squad could beat LAL?

Great post, Trueblood. Here's an article about Portland and whether they should keep Damian Lillard or blow it up. 3 Reasons for Trail Blazers to go all-in on 2024, 3 reasons to blow it up https://ripcityproject.com/2023/05/08/reasons-trail-blazers-all-in-2024-blow-it-up/ The main reason to go all-in is superstar point guard Lillard. He’s coming off the best season of his career at age 32 and has a legitimate case to make an All-NBA team. Dame has made it known he would love for Portland to make a move to acquire a co-star. Apparently, All-Star-level players out there would be willing to come, too. “I know there are guys that want to do it. I will just say that. I know there are guys who really move the needle and want to do it. But knowing that and actually making something happen to make that a reality is a completely separate thing.” -- Damian Lillard on the possibility of trading for a co-star. Lillard has spent all 11 of his NBA seasons in a Portland Trail Blazers jersey. He’s received a reputation for being one of the most loyal superstars in the league. In an era when superstars often switch teams to land more in ideal situations, Lillard has stayed put through the good times and bad. If he wants the Blazers to make an all-in move, go for it. He’s earned that opportunity to try and contend. Let’s say the Blazers can get a co-star like Zach LaVine, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, Mikal Bridges, etc., and retain Jerami Grant. A big three of Lillard, LaVine (or whichever star), and Grant are solid and should be enough to make the playoffs, but it’s still not entirely on the same level as the big threes of the elite teams in the league. COMMENT: Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard would be similar to....

Norman Powell and Robert Covington are unwanted contracts on the Clippers, but Norman Powell was a 6th Man of the Year Candidate. New York gave up a #15 first-rounder for Jason Hart, and I figure that Norman Powell is at least worth that. So getting a #26 and #29 is fair value. Robert Covington can contribute, and he's on an expiring contract. If Indiana doesn't work out, Clippers can trade them to Orlando for a future lottery-protected first-rounder. I don't think that Orlando would want to include their #11 pick this year.

Unfortunately I think the moves we make or don't make hinges on how deep the Lakers go in the playoffs. If they mess around and win it all Ballmer will pull the plug on 213 and move PG & Kawhi

I agree, Clemenza. If the Lakers punch out Golden State and win the series 4-1, I think it hastens the departure of Bob Myers for greener pastures to the Clippers (at least I hope so). From there, it's wipe the table clean.

Thanks Rick. Good article as well. If Kawhi is the only option then I say go for it. I just don't see it working out for them. I just see load management going full on overtime in weed city

Kawhi Leonard would be the best partner for Damian Lillard. As I said before, they'd be akin to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. He's clearly better than Zach LaVine, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, Mikal Bridges, etc. If Portland traded for any of those guys, they'd have to toss in Jerami Grant in order to make the salaries work.

In his first year, we didn't notice Kawhi Leonard's load management, or, at least, we expected it. It was only after years and years of this, coupled with his injuries come playoff time, that hurt the Clippers. Portland can only hope it was a Clipper thing and that things will be different in Portland.