NBA 2025 NBA Playoffs

[Fantomas]

Wasn't that the bubble year? It's crazy to pencil them as automatic champions if Kawhi was there. The Lakers in 2020 were a VERY strong team.

53-19 without Kawhi. They'd destroy everyone.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Jack Straw]

53-19 without Kawhi. They'd destroy everyone.

Toronto made that trade knowing full well it was just a one year rental. Everybody knew he was going to LA the next year. Otherwise some other teams (the Sixers for one) would probably have gotten in on the bidding.

It's just silly to blame Kawhi for doing something that everyone knew he would do fully a year in advance.

 

[Fantomas]

Toronto made that trade knowing full well it was just a one year rental. Everybody knew he was going to LA the next year.

That's not true.

This was a likelihood. But the Raptors still worked hard to persuade Kawhi to stay and I remember the discourse about whether Kawhi would stay or go and it was an open question. Ultimately he made his choice and he chose poorly. The smart thing to do would have been a one-year extension with Toronto. Instead he conspired with a declining and overrated Paul George to team up with the Clippers and together they formed one of the most fradulent "contenders" in league history.

 

[Karterthadon]

That's not true.

This was a likelihood. But the Raptors still worked hard to persuade Kawhi to stay and I remember the discourse about whether Kawhi would stay or go and it was an open question. Ultimately he made his choice and he chose poorly. The smart thing to do would have been a one-year extension with Toronto. Instead he conspired with a declining and overrated Paul George to team up with the Clippers and together they formed one of the most fradulent "contenders" in league history.

Paul George had just finished 3rd in MVP voting for that season. Hardly a declining and overrated player.

 

[Fantomas]

Paul George had just finished 3rd in MVP voting for that season. Hardly a declining and overrated player.

Yeah? What happened since then?

 

[BKIslandersFan]

You forgot to add Harden demanding a trade.

True!

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Kawhi might have had more team success had he stayed in Toronto but his personal life would have taken a hit and in the end that what it all about.

Big game 7 tonight, do the Warriors have one more in them?

 

[Jack Straw]

That's not true.

This was a likelihood. But the Raptors still worked hard to persuade Kawhi to stay and I remember the discourse about whether Kawhi would stay or go and it was an open question. Ultimately he made his choice and he chose poorly. The smart thing to do would have been a one-year extension with Toronto. Instead he conspired with a declining and overrated Paul George to team up with the Clippers and together they formed one of the most fradulent "contenders" in league history.

Ok, let me re-phrase...

Toronto made that trade knowing full well it was most likely a one year rental. Everybody knew he was probably going to LA the next year.

Better?

 

[Jack Straw]

Yeah? What happened since then?

To Kawhi or PG? Pretty much the same thing for both. In the same 5 years Kawhi has played a few more regular season games and a few less playoff games. But at the time it looked like the Clippers were going to be a superteam, especially with GS losing KD and Klay.

 

[Terry Yake]

would kawhi have stayed in toronto if the clips hadn't been able to acquire PG or another star?

he wasn't going to play 3rd fiddle on the lakers behind lebron and AD

 

[EpochLink]

would kawhi have stayed in toronto if the clips hadn't been able to acquire PG or another star?

he wasn't going to play 3rd fiddle on the lakers behind lebron and AD

Kawhi was gone no matter what, he got the Raps the chip then he dipped.
Always felt he was the hired assassin to get them over the hump, which he did.