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  • after the shortest offseason in the history of North American pro sports, the MBA returns tonight.

  • One of the biggest stories surrounding the Clippers is Kawhi Leonard's player option after this season.

  • Here is what Kawai said when asked about it yesterday.

  • This is interesting.

  • Take a listen just for my situation right now.

  • I'm just focused on this season, you know what I mean?

  • I'm not saying I'm going anywhere else.

  • We're staying here, but I'm just focused on the season.

  • And, you know, obviously, for, uh, you know, if I stay healthy, um, the best decision is that the climate player option, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving or staying.

  • I'm focused on this season.

  • Like I said, we'll talk about that when the time is right.

  • So that's really interesting, he said.

  • If I'm healthy, the best decision is to decline the player option, basically, because that would make him a free agent and even if it's staying with the Clippers, get lots more money next offseason.

  • Hearing that and knowing the CO.

  • I obviously went through the season in Toronto, member all the Hawaiian dying and all the sort of moves the city made to keep him.

  • He's comfortable going through that and then picking up and going somewhere else if he asked.

  • I don't think what is going anywhere.

  • I think he's just gonna, you know, ensure his chances on getting a bigger bag.

  • You know, which he will get because the team committed to Paul George, another veteran who they want to pair him with now.

  • So he gets injured this year.

  • He's out regardless.

  • They're still going to resign him because they put all their eggs in this basket to make this room for the next five years with these two guys and he's just gonna maximize, you know, his pay, his pay scale.

  • He's gonna maximize that.

  • That's all he's trying to.

  • This is the last big bag.

  • He's gonna probably get eso he's gonna maximize it totally, and I don't see him going anywhere.

  • Do you know why Paul George signed that extension?

  • Because he's not Kawhi Leonard, right?

  • Because he's not quite Leonard like Alright, let me get this money in the bag, co.

  • I could have signed his extension.

  • He could have done that, But why is like, Look, I wanna keep my options open because when you do this.

  • You know what you do?

  • You make the clippers stare at you the whole time.

  • What do you need?

  • What do you want?

  • Once you committed, It's like, all right.

  • It's like you got that ring on your finger like, all right, you're stuck with me.

  • But now they're focused on getting him what they want.

  • Now he knows that they're going to try and go and sign players or go over the cap, all the things necessary to be a champion.

  • And so I think he did it as a strategic move.

  • I don't know, co.

  • I don't nobody know what he is doing, but if he's healthy, he'll be a free agent.

  • And look, if we look at that 2021 free agent class, Yannis is no longer on the board.

  • And you had so many teams that were kind of saving some cap room just in case, right?

  • A bunch of guys got extended yesterday.

  • Even restricted free agents.

  • Not gonna be on the board to the same degree.

  • So Kawai basically saying, Hey, unless there's something I don't expect, I will be that top guy on the board.

  • I'm sure there are a lot of teams that we're saving room for someone else who might be like, Well, we could at least try.

  • We could least throw money at him and the Clippers.

  • Of course, as you say, Paul will try as well to keep him all right.

  • A little bit more clippers for you.

  • Because on Sunday, Tyler said he plans to use Kawai and more triangle offense sets in a similar way to the Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were used by Phil Jackson.

  • Of course, Tie has personal experience there, Richard those air lofty comparisons.

  • But what would you expect Hawaii in a triangle look like?

  • Would you expect him to do well in that?

  • Well, I I think, their lofty comparisons, but I think at co wise prime when he's at his best, like, I think you can compare him, right?

  • Not I wouldn't say whole career, but I think it's more about how you allow players to, uh to score.

  • And they have always said that the triangle offense isn't about the primary score.

  • It's about guys around them getting a rhythm, getting a feel, and I think that was something that the Clippers lost.

  • It was like yeah, we could be quiet.

  • We could be Paul.

  • But it's like, where did the other guys fit in on there?

  • So, ah, lot of times when they're saying we're gonna play him out of the triangle, that's to get other players their rhythm and system kind of feel.

  • So when he says that about Hawaii, he's really talking about how to get Morris and Kinard and all of these other guys in a rhythm.

  • Yeah, I think his game really fits the triangle offense because if you look at how he operates on the offensive end, he's great in those spaces at the elbow at the mid post, where you get one or two dribbles and he goes into his mid range shot and then it gives him the opportunity to get movement around him so where he can make plays with his passing and get better at that.

  • So I applaud the Lewis, looking at these different variations of the offense, to try to make him the best player that he could be because he's their best player and if you can have your best player, uh comfortable within the offense, it makes for a better team.

  • And so uh, I think that's a great move, right?

  • They're not all game long, but like some portions of the game.

  • And we gotta we gotta get Paul, George and pick and Rolls.

  • I mean, I think he had picking Rose last.

  • She's had his whole career.

  • Richard.

  • What?

  • What?

  • We can't joke here.

  • I think Paul George be great in the in the triangle.

  • Also raise slash You could post There's two dribbles to the rim on the I think.

  • I think that's awesome, all right, we got some late breaking news from producer Danny in my ear right now.

  • He said that the Lakers have announced that they are going to wait until fans air back in the building to unveil their championship banner.

  • So rings they're scheduled to be given out.

  • I mean, they got 17 of them that way.

  • There's no rush.

  • Self expands aren't counting all the lake way Before we go, Steph Curry said this about playing with Kevin Durant.

  • Quote the great ones.

  • Bring the best out of you, Sir Richard Curry, Durant tonight.

  • What are you expecting before we go?

  • I think step is going toe have the heaviest load he's ever had.

  • to carry, and it's going to be interesting toe.

  • Watch him go out there and he's gonna have to average 30 in order for their team to be highly competitive on DSO.

  • Without Clay, especially without Draymond, that means he's the primary ball handler.

  • He's the primary creator and the primary score, probably the secondary score also.

  • So I think this is going to be a great year for step because he's gonna have to do so much.

  • So he's gonna have to pull of James Harden.

  • You're saying not the dribble at the top of the key.

  • You know what I'm saying?

  • You carry that.

  • He's got to carry the team, and that was a lot of criticism on staff.

  • Could he carry a team the same way that some of these other superstars have?

  • Yeah, I think he's gonna put a big staff.

  • I don't think he's gonna be as efficient as he has had in the past because he doesn't have the same space.

  • And when you have guys like Katie Draymond Clay Thompson out there, but he's gonna put up big numbers, I believe.

  • Also James Wiseman available tonight.

  • Steve Kerr would not give out his starting lineup, but again dreamin out.

  • What do you expect to see from Wiseman?

  • I think Wiseman Steve said that he was going to keep it very, very simple.

  • Run to the front of these guys.

  • He played one game in high school.

  • Are one game in college, not not really got an opportunity to train.

  • So it just roll to the dam, be a rim protector.

  • We're just going to keep it a B and C for the young player and allow them to develop into his booth.

  • E o e just said screams of rodeo number one, e o e.

  • Opening.

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after the shortest offseason in the history of North American pro sports, the MBA returns tonight.

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