Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
Kawhi is better and I think there is a real chance. Kawhi Leonard just recently bought a $13.3 million dollar house in Rancho Santa Fe. It's an elite suburb of San Diego. He went to San Diego State. He even shows up at San Diego State athletic events from time to time. Of course he is from Riverside CA originally. He has tons of friends, family, college buddies, an expensive house in San Diego, his college program that he follows all in southern CA.
Before the year was run out. I would say his 2 destinations would be Los Angeles Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers. Now that he just won the Championship and was Finals MVP you would have to put the Toronto Raptors as one possibility. So you are looking at 3 teams out of 30. 27 teams don't have a chance IMO to land him. He would go to a San Diego team if they had one but they don't. So Los Angeles is the closest and he also has roots from that general area in Riverside. Winning the Championship changes things some. He has a pretty good team there. Lowry and some of the pieces they have are good. I just don't see a southern CA guy being happy in Toronto Ontario Canada. It's too cold for him. It's far from his family and friends. Canada isn't even the U.S. Is he really happy there? Plus with these max contracts Canada has like 50% taxes. The U.S. is in the 30% something ranges. Over the length of a contract that's tens of millions saved if he is in the U.S. Plus his marketability in the U.S. market is massive if he is in Los Angeles. Not so much if he is in Toronto Ontario Canada.
I just can't see any reason at all that he would want to stay in Toronto other than they just won the Championship and have a pretty good team with some good pieces. Which are big reasons. But marketability, close to family, close to friends, close to roots, close to College program, better weather all lead to southern CA. Where he just has 2 choices. It's the Lakers or Clippers. I would say it was 2 choices if they didn't win the Championship. The Lakers or Clippers. Now that they won I guess you would have to throw in Toronto too.
But when he was first traded it was said he was disappointed and didn't want to play there and didn't want to be there. Has that now changed so much that he will want to stay? Maybe it has. I still think long run at some point in time he will end up in southern CA. Who knows when that is? Maybe he does a 1 year deal with Toronto and becomes a free agent at the end of next year.
First, a ton of celebrities including b-ball players have real estate in CA. They have a lot of cash, and if advised well are going to invest in a market that is a. Mostly recession proof and b. Gives you tangible returns like a dope house in RSF. I don't Think him buying a spot down there means much, it's smart investing and should be done regardless esp with his ties to SDSU.
Next, San Diego is about as close to staples center as Santa Barbara. Ive lived in LA and grew up in Orange County, that ain't close. You might as well play in Phoenix or SF and hop on a quick flight to Ontario to see your friends in riverside and party on the Westside. Or maybe he gets the Kobe deal and takes a chopper from SD to El Segundo, our ticket sales would support that..and if they dont then wtf I am paying too damn much for club level seats damnit.
The income tax rates in Canada are blown out of proportion. I don't think playing there would be that material a difference from CA but I could be wrong there. Now taking into account marketing opportunities ya La is much more lucrative...but who knows what his motives are.
Weather is a big deal. I wouldn't want to live in Toronto.
As far as everyone claiming they know what he wants...that's where I get hung up. I hear about him not wanting a big market or dealing w media and this and that...he barely talks to media and handles it perfectly. He doesn't not GAF about noise. I don't believe reports about his unhappiness in Toronto or that he didn't want to go there, he keeps a tight circle, as a laker fan you hear BS from windhorst or Stephen a every day. I don't believe it. He just wanted out of SA.
I think he's the most enigmatic superstar we've seen, and that's the only hope I have for him coming to the lakers. I wouldn't be surprised if he said f**k it, I want to go play for the lakers and bring a franchise like this a championship bc I can. Would anyone be surprised? That's why I have hope. Not really for any of the other reasons.
As a b-ball and kawhi fan, I would rather him go anywhere but the clippers...and the Celtics. For different reasons. F the Celtics. And it'd be a shame to have a guy with his talent in his prime go to a team that has 14 fans like the LAC, on a good day.
I think there's a good chance he stays in Toronto. But he's a tough guy to read, part of his personality and makes him the player he is.
[ Edited by DynastyChile on Jun 14, 2019 at 7:53 PM ]
