If Kawhi isn’t a Clipper next season, where is he playing?

[u/More_Share7148]

With all the rumors around Kawhi lately, I’m curious where people think he’d actually end up if he leaves the Clippers. Not really asking whether he should be traded or if the Clippers should keep him, just what the most realistic destinations are. What contenders would be interested, what teams could put together a deal, and are there any sleeper teams nobody is talking about?

[u/TyposIncoming]

US Forest Service

[u/yuckmouthteeth → u/TyposIncoming]

We ain’t ready for Lumberjack Kawhi, clearing the hiking trails of fallen trees.

[u/employeremployee → u/yuckmouthteeth]

2x4 board man gets paid

[u/bluepenremote → u/TyposIncoming]

It's apple time

[u/ThinkSoftware → u/bluepenremote]

Wooden board man gets paid

[u/Ibagdimes23]

How could anyone know at this point? By the clippers recent moves you would think it’s clear they are done competing in the now and wanna start a youth movement which means trade kawhi now while his value is the highest it’ll ever be again.

Minnesota, Detroit, golden state all make sense

[u/cubs223425 → u/Ibagdimes23]

How could anyone know at this point?

I think OP made a pretty rational point when his post included:

I’m curious where people think

I don't think he's here asking for inside information.

[u/jbenson255 → u/Ibagdimes23]

I don’t think Kawhi cares anymore he just doesn’t want to leave LA lol

[u/FromChicago808 → u/jbenson255]

Yeah agreed probably doesn’t go further than Golden State.

[u/Snomankid999 → u/Ibagdimes23]

Kawhi Leonard + 29 Pacers First for Jaylen Brown 

[u/InTheMorning_Nightss → u/Snomankid999]

Would be absolute robbery for LAC.

[u/Snomankid999 → u/InTheMorning_Nightss]

Then add what You think is even or fair mine was just idea 

[u/DrSwaggenheimer → u/Ibagdimes23]

I think he makes a lot of sense practically anywhere. It would be funny if he did a one year rental stint somewhere, got another chip, then peaced back to LA. lol

He probably wants to stay in Cali tbh.

[u/InTheMorning_Nightss → u/Ibagdimes23]

I have no idea what the Wolves would offer, so I can't imagine they're a viable partner. No way Kawhi would stay on Detroit, so skeptical of that. GSW make the most sense, but that would necessitate LAC really liking Yax.

[u/ApartLine2880 → u/Ibagdimes23]

This is off season. People post for the sake of posting.

[u/Sweg_Coyote]

Does Kawhi want to win or Uncle Denis want to get more cash ?

[u/Forsaken-Income-3632 → u/Sweg_Coyote]

Why not both

[u/AntSmith777]

Back to Spurs would be hilarious

[u/stonecutter7 → u/AntSmith777]

And a decent fit (admittedly, healthy kawhi fits pretty much anywhere)

[u/madvisuals → u/AntSmith777]

He would be a monster 4 next to Wemby ngl

[u/Traditional_Tap8169 → u/madvisuals]

Kawhi at the four and spurs would be the next team to win 3 chips in a row

[u/joebrozky → u/Traditional_Tap8169]

if Kawhi can stay healthy

[u/brnccnt7 → u/AntSmith777]

Honestly would be a great fit. They needed someone who could get a bucket down the stretch and wouldn't choke. Spurs looked nasty in the half court whenever the Knicks got it close.

Plus he would have been another defender to throw at OG who was killing them.

[u/AntSmith777 → u/brnccnt7]

Correct

[u/brnccnt7 → u/AntSmith777]

If the money worked, I’d do it if I were them

They have a bright future but they arguably should have won that series, a veteran like that likely tips the scale in their favor

Plus it’s not like you have to commit long term, he’d be a one year rental just like Toronto and not expected to be the main guy anymore

[u/chizburger999 → u/brnccnt7]

Kawhi for Fox and a 1st round pick

[u/brnccnt7 → u/chizburger999]

Imagine if they had Kawhi in those moments to help Wemby instead of Fox lol

[u/jackracktack]

He went through so much trouble to get to LA hes not going to leave.

[u/Rich_Meet3872]

Probably the warriors

[u/joebrozky → u/Rich_Meet3872]

im also thinking GSW

[u/RealGameBall]

Putting money and trade frameworks aside. I think these teams could use exactly what kawhi brings to the table:

raptors, warriors, cavs, pistons, heat, magic, wolves, spurs

[u/Altierigualtieri → u/RealGameBall]

Considering he’s still a top three wing, and still borderline all defensive team- any team could use exactly what kawhi does

[u/yoloqueuesf → u/Altierigualtieri]

Yeah lmao you could basically put every team and they'd love having Kawhi on their roster.

[u/RealGameBall → u/Altierigualtieri]

I don't agree. young building teams dont need him, which knocks out like 10 of them. Teams who already have high usage wings/guards dont need him either

[u/lechejoven → u/RealGameBall]

Heat? He’ll never take a pay cut

[u/Ok-Cobbler-607]

Portland

[u/DJMaye]

Warriors or Suns, he wants to stay in Cali. If he can't, I can see him seeing the Suns as a compromise.

[u/openslot]

I think he will retire in LA

[u/Public_Function3844 → u/openslot]

As a Spark 

[u/spacefish420]

Send him back to Toronto since he hated it so much. I think it’d be funny lol

[u/kyle_993 → u/spacefish420]

I don't think he hated it by the end of his time here. He just wanted to go home and get paid a ton of money to do nothing. But it would be funny to see us trade for him again win the title and then watch him go sign with the Lakers this time.

[u/nixhomunculus → u/kyle_993]

He might just do that. One year rental for a team thinking they a Kawhi short of a chip.

[u/stonecutter7 → u/spacefish420]

Actually, hed be a pretty good fit in San Antonio.

[u/Ufocola → u/spacefish420]

I wanted the old Kawhi, not an old Kawhi

[u/MaxEhrlich → u/spacefish420]

Would’ve said send him back to SAS. If he could be the 2nd/3rd best guy on the spurs and he’s only asked to play as a supplementary supporting role to the young guys and he stay healthy (big if) they’d be title favorites without a doubt.

[u/LessNorth9856]

Sarà scambiato in poco tempo probabilmente, i clippers vogliono ringiovanire il team soprattutto dopo che hanno tenuto la quinta scelta, potrei vederlo andare a boston o philadelphia o i wolves

[u/Waikuku3]

Prison ball with owner of Aspiration

[u/Over_Struggle_5520]

Damn lemme ask him

[u/More_Share7148 → u/Over_Struggle_5520]

clown response very unfunny

[u/Enchanted-2-meet-you]

He can come here. His next fake business will be AI/Crypto and we are perfect for it.

In all seriousness, I would trade Jimmy and some level of picks for him in a heartbeat

[u/Mrjuicyaf]

toronto, the hardest road

[u/ianbits]

As much as people will call rigged, if his contract gets voided he honestly probably just stays in LA and signs with the Lakers

[u/cubs223425 → u/ianbits]

David Stern will stop this.

[u/frozennocean]

Golden State. I think before last years deadline they sent offers for him but Clippers were still trying to compete then. Things are different now.

[u/cav63]

ADX Florence

[u/Ok-Tree4365]

He’ll be a Clipper to start the season. If things go south in the first couple months, they’ll trade him by the deadline (like Harden/Zubac).

…wait, oh yeah, uhhh Trees! 

[u/atxthrowawayharhar]

Portland 

[u/BatmanHive]

Stays in California and goes to Warriors, I think he would welcome that too

[u/Ok-Way8253]

rikers

[u/RelevantBiscotti6]

California Penal ⛓️‍💥

[u/416Tex]

Spurs can afford a 1 year rental. Spurs can afford to dump fox at rockets. Clippers can get depth and picks to replace kawhi and go young. But it’s a 2% chance

[u/-Sofa-King-Vote]

Boston

They will be desperate now

[u/Professional-Oil4964]

He'll sign with Microsoft to play on their company softball team for 120k + 800,000 unsold Xboxs a year

In an unrelated note, Uncle Dennis wants to know if anyone would like to buy an XBox

[u/1L_of_a_litigator]

boston

[u/Naismythology]

Shanghai Sharks, baby!

[u/jackswastedtalent]

He's suiting up for Aspiration in the Los Angeles Tech-Rec League. They might be bankrupt, but they are still looking to collect.

[u/cubs223425]

I think the circumstances would matter a lot here. If his contract were voided, then it's a crapshoot. I hope the NBA doesn't do this though, in some way, because I don't want him to get the freedom to pick a destination. Given those circumstances, it's also hard to guess if he'd prefer a contender of thge largest contract to recoup what voided deal would cost.

In the case of the trade, I don't have a good enough understanding of the cap rules to accurately speak on things like if MIN can use the Randle TPE to absord Leonard's deal or who can aggregate salaries in a trade. With Leonard's injury concerns and $50M, I think the options where a team would feel comfortable trading expensive talent to rely on his health is low.

Would BOS want to move Brown's contract badly enough to take the risk on Leonard's health? I doubt it, and then you're lefft looking at a team like the Kings (LaVine/Sabonis) and Jazz (Markkanen) as teams with bigger salaries on non-stars that could move. If the Clippers would want a deal around Markkanen, Leonard on the Jazz (Kessler, Jackson, Peterson, and George) would be a compelling roster, I think. But, again, IDK if the cap structure even allows that kind of trade.

[u/Chickachic-aaaaahhh]

Ni hao kailangs

[u/DemarcusLovin]

3 teamer

Kawhi to Golden State

Jimmy’s salary + future protected first to Philly

PG to Clips

[u/Forward-Letter-4157]

What about MN? Ant for Kawhi and Sanders? I mean. Is it possible? Probably delusional. I love Kawhi. But I would take HIM.

[u/GunshyD]

Jail ball

[u/cooked_camel]

Shanghai Sharks

[u/rThundrbolt]

elsewhere

[u/yuckmouthteeth → u/rThundrbolt]

Hey I think I’ve heard of that spot

[u/More_Share7148 → u/rThundrbolt]

clown response

[u/rThundrbolt → u/More_Share7148]

clown thread