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Kawhi Leonard is 35 years-old. He’s owed more than $50 million next season. The injury history is enough to make even the most aggressive general manager hesitate. Normally, that would end the discussion.
Allegedly, the Rockets have spent the last few weeks getting connected to every star with a pulse. Most of them come with the same problems. Either somebody needs the ball too much, or costs half the roster.
After investing years into building one of the NBA’s deepest young cores, they turned around and traded for a future Hall of Famer approaching 40 last summer. It came as a shock because the MO suggested they’re more worried about what the roster will look like in 2031 than making it to the Finals immediately.
The upside is clear- Leonard averaged 27.9 points this season while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor and nearly 39-percent from three. More importantly, he played 65 games. For the first time in a while, the basketball part of the argument is carrying more weight than the medical chart. He's also a twice over Defensive Player of the Year recipient (2015, 2016), which we know Ime Udoka would eat up.
On the other side of the scale is the spreadsheet. To grab Kawhi this summer, there’s a lot to consider. The bill would be steep, not to mention essentially tossing money and effort poured into the shooters they’ve been developing. My guess is his worth ballparks around Jabari Smith Jr. plus Reed Sheppard plus picks… probably more picks.
Jabari Smith Jr. would hurt. Reed Sheppard would hurt. Future picks always hurt until they don’t.
Still, it’s hard to look at a potential playoff lineup featuring Durant, Leonard, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet without understanding why the idea keeps resurfacing. The image of Durant and Leonard sharing the floor in a playoff series against Oklahoma City? That’s a tough one to stop thinking about.
Continue reading...
Allegedly, the Rockets have spent the last few weeks getting connected to every star with a pulse. Most of them come with the same problems. Either somebody needs the ball too much, or costs half the roster.
After investing years into building one of the NBA’s deepest young cores, they turned around and traded for a future Hall of Famer approaching 40 last summer. It came as a shock because the MO suggested they’re more worried about what the roster will look like in 2031 than making it to the Finals immediately.
The upside is clear- Leonard averaged 27.9 points this season while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor and nearly 39-percent from three. More importantly, he played 65 games. For the first time in a while, the basketball part of the argument is carrying more weight than the medical chart. He's also a twice over Defensive Player of the Year recipient (2015, 2016), which we know Ime Udoka would eat up.
On the other side of the scale is the spreadsheet. To grab Kawhi this summer, there’s a lot to consider. The bill would be steep, not to mention essentially tossing money and effort poured into the shooters they’ve been developing. My guess is his worth ballparks around Jabari Smith Jr. plus Reed Sheppard plus picks… probably more picks.
Jabari Smith Jr. would hurt. Reed Sheppard would hurt. Future picks always hurt until they don’t.
Still, it’s hard to look at a potential playoff lineup featuring Durant, Leonard, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet without understanding why the idea keeps resurfacing. The image of Durant and Leonard sharing the floor in a playoff series against Oklahoma City? That’s a tough one to stop thinking about.
Continue reading...
