Kawhi Leaves Toronto

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Today has been a shitty day. I woke up to see that I got a few LOL emails from my American friends because Kawhi left for the Clippers. On top of that, my grandma died. I don't think Kawhi's departure had anything to do with it though. Let's explore this in more detail:

One way of looking at it

Kawhi didn't want to be here in the first place. However, he still put on that Raptors jersey and reported for duty. Also, he could have half-assed it all season long, but he didn't. He gave it 100 percent and helped us win our first championship. The city of Toronto should be grateful to him for everything he did and respect his decision for wanting to go home.

The other way of looking at it

Logically speaking, what Kawhi did makes no sense. How could he just walk away from a championship team? How many stars can you think of that did something like this? Did Kobe leave the Lakers after winning? Did Curry leave after winning with the Warriors? Did LeBron leave after winning in Cleveland? It's not as if Kawhi joined a better team. Do they have a chance of winning now that they have him (and Paul George?) I still don't think so. Furthermore, since Kawhi was looking for a max contract, he could have earned a lot more playing in Toronto. And finally, he was a king up here. In California, he is no king - just another great player.

Anyways, now it's up to the basketball Gods to decide what's going to happen. If he doesn't win with the Clippers, and I don't think he will, then all those "what if" questions are going to start: what if he had stayed in Toronto? How many more rings do you think he would have won? And if he won a few more, then do you think he would have ended up in the same category as the other all-time greats, like Kobe, Magic, Bird? Let's all wait and see what happens!

No but Shaq did.

Yes.

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

No but Shaq did.

Yes.

LeBron won the championship in 2016. The following two seasons the Cavs lost in the finals and then he decided to leave, and that's what I'm trying to say here. He didn't leave his team right after winning the championship. The same goes for Shaq. He did not help the Lakers win a championship and then immediately want out, right? They lost a few seasons and then he left.

Kawhi did something I have never seen before. He won and then said "I'm outta' here - bye!"

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Enjoy the title! I would accept that the next 5 years would suck for my favorite team if it could just win one. I used to think the opposite and always worried about building for a future that might never happen. If you can pull a big move, even if it is short term (like the Raptors did), that helps you land a title you do it. Congrats and ENJOY it!!!

Very sorry about your grandma.

[samosa4u]

Thanks everyone. Grandma fell about a month before she died. Without the injury, she would have lived longer for sure. She was a great woman and we all miss her very much.

Anyways, now back to Kawhi lol

So he signed a 3 year deal with the Clippers today, but he could opt out after the second year.

Clippers gave up guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forward Danilo Gallinari and five first-round draft picks for Paul George. Oh my goodness! That is A LOT for a guy who recently broke his leg (very badly).

Clippers gave up A LOT more for Kawhi than what Toronto did.

They have two years to win the championship. If things don't go well, then watch Kawhi join the Lakers in 2021. With him gone and no first round picks, this organization is going to suffer for a long time.

Good luck to the Clippers and their fans. I hope you guys win a championship.