Will GM Bobby Webster say yes to the Clippers’ asking price?
After an apparent “stall” in the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, the Raptors and Clippers are finalizing the deal that would send the 2x Finals MVP back to Canada. As per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, both teams have agreed on which players would surround the package, and a trade “could happen today.”
This report might come as a surprise to those following NBA Insider Chris Haynes’s statements last night regarding the Raptors and the Clippers reaching a “stalling point” as the latter “wants more” from what the former is offering on the table.
Coincidentally, Clutch Points’ NBA insider Brett Siegel also released details surrounding the offer the Raptors had made to pursue Leonard before Haynes’ interview.
Raptors receive: Kawhi Leonard
Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a first-round pick
The foundation of the trade
For contract purposes, either Brandon Ingram or RJ Barrett would be the expected central piece to make the money work. Pairing Kawhi with another ball-dominant score-first forward sounds less ideal than pairing him with a 3&D wing that could spread the floor, as he gravitates the defense towards him. Hence, Ingram was always the preferred player to center the deal around.
Gradey Dick checks the box for a good young player that the Clippers might ask to couple with Ingram in a potential swap. Although coming off a “down” season where he just averaged 6.3 points on a 41.9% FG clip and knocking down an inconsistent 30.1% of his three-point shots, the upside is that he’s just 22 and will have time to develop consistent three-point shooting down the line, and is on a team-friendly rookie contract.
Despite Kawhi redeeming his value coming off one of his healthiest and most productive regular-season campaigns ever, the Clippers will have to settle for Ingram and Dick. As good as a return that might be, the Raptors roster has more enticing options to choose from that would have brought the Clippers a higher value, in regard to a player’s ceiling. Collin Murray-Boyles and Jakobi Walter were reportedly “off-limits” for the Clippers as far as Raptors GM Bobby Webster is concerned.
Calling the shots
Leonard has stated his interest in re-signing with the Clippers, but the organization seems unwilling to make that happen. Hence, the Raptors have emerged as the favorites to land the 2x Champion, as they are the only team that is willing to give Leonard an extension if a trade were to go through, and he has stated a mutual interest in a reunion with them. This situation allows GM Webster the leverage to call the shots for what Kawhi would cost.
What remains for contention now is how many draft assets Toronto will spend to bring Kawhi back to the Raptors. Considering Kawhi’s value as a player, there is no doubt that the Clippers want to get more picks in return to bolster their own draft capital. However, with negotiation leverage and front-office experience on GM Webster’s side, the Clippers might just have to settle for less than what they wanted.
