WHO knew Kawhi Leonard was such a master coup plotter? Who knew he would be such a cunning, Janus-faced negotiator who knew how to push the right buttons to get what he ultimately wanted?
What had been clear at the start of free agency was that Kawhi wanted to be in Los Angeles so the Clippers and the Lakers were thought to be front-runners along with, of course, his current championship team, the Toronto Raptors.
First, he reportedly met with the Clippers and Lakers with both teams making their respective pitches. Then he traveled to Toronto and the latest insider info as of Friday was that the Clippers were out of it and it was a tossup between the Lakers and the Raptors.
SURPRISE SURPRISE. Indeed, who knew he had the hots for Paul George, who himself had previously expressed interest in being based in Los Angeles.
The Lakers fans had anticipated Kawhi signing to team up with Lebron James and Anthony Davis to complete the NBA’s new super team.
But as ESPN’s primary NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported, “In the end, Kawhi Leonard didn’t want to construct a Super Team with the Lakers. He wanted a co-star across the Staples Corridor with the Clippers and made it clear to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank: Get PG and I’m coming.”
That’s a pretty loaded set of facts, one which nobody outside of Kawhi’s camp saw coming.
Boy did he take everybody for a ride. This silent, crafty operator on the court proved to be as shrewd and guileful off it and just like that, the Clippers are instant title contenders.
END OF AN ERA. Kawhi’s refusal to be part of a dominant trio in the Lakers that would have romped off with the title hopefully ushers in the end of the super-team era.
Now we have the superstar tandems or duos at best. For the Golden State Warriors with the departure of Kevin Durant, they have Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. For the Clippers, Kawhi and PG. For the Lakers we have Lebron and AD. The Rockets have James Harden and Chris Paul.
In the East, Durant--when he comes back--has Kyrie Irving for the Brooklyn Nets. With Jimmy Butler gone, the 76ers are left with Ben Simmons and Joel Embid.
Is this going to be the new normal?
VERBATIM. “Manny will sizzle and Thurman will fizzle when they battle it out in the ring at the MGM Grand”—Freddie Roach (www.boxingnews24.com)
LAST ROUND. It’s on a dear friend, Liezel Gedorio, who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers!