Jake Fischer: Top-Tier Free Agents May Need to Wait for Kawhi Leonard’s Decision

Jake Fischer joins the show on the doorstep of the official beginning to the 2019 NBA free agency period. The Sports Illustrated reporter takes us through the likeliest scenarios involving superstars Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. He also explores the Los Angeles Clippers’ chances of finally landing a max free agent after years of coming away empty-handed and how their arena-mates plan to build around Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Jake’s thoughts on the 76ers’ approach to the offseason and the Rockets’ rumored interest in Jimmy Butler are featured as well, among other salient NBA storylines. Some highlights of an action-packed episode (Particular time stamps may vary due to dynamic advertising.):

4:28-5:13: “While Durant might make his decision where he wants to go before Leonard, there might be teams that say, ‘We have to wait to hear what Kawhi says first.’ If I had to guess right now, I would still expect Kyrie and Kevin Durant to go to Brooklyn together. I’m not saying that’s gonna happen; that’s my guess at the moment. I just think with those two guys’ interests in playing together, the Nets’ aggressive moves to create two max cap spots, and their ability to afford patience with [Durant’s] recovery…they both end up in Brooklyn.”

9:24-10:15: “From Day 1, once that relationship in San Antonio soured, everyone that I’ve spoken to around Kawhi has specifically talked about his love of Southern California, how he is a man of simple tastes – all he wants to do is be with the people close to him, work hard, and compete – and the best place for him to do that is most likely Southern California, where he’s from, where he played college basketball. If he does leave Toronto, I would be very surprised if it’s anywhere but for the Clippers. I don’t buy that the Lakers are a viable option for him. I don’t think that Kawhi Leonard wants to play second or third fiddle to LeBron [James] and Anthony Davis.”

16:50-18:01: “Don’t get it twisted: the Lakers created max-salary space to go chase a max free agent. The public speculation about them instead using that money for role players is to put out the backup plan. That is not the plan. The plan is to go get a third star. I don’t agree with it. Look what happened with Golden State this season in the Finals. When you make a top-heavy roster like that, when you can have greater talent on the floor when healthy, it dramatically swings the odds of the game in your favor, but it also leaves you very susceptible; one injury can really derail an entire rotation. … I would personally take that salary and go after shooters and defenders, but the Lakers are a hundred percent going for a big-name guy, whether it be Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Russell, Kawhi Leonard, you name it. They’re going after every single guy.”

25:37-26:29: “A lot of the word to come out has been about Houston’s interest and Houston’s efforts. We haven’t heard if it’s reciprocated on [Jimmy Butler’s] end. While he is friends with James Harden, and Harden has made a lot of recruiting efforts on the Rockets’ behalf, Jimmy Butler was an alpha dog in Philadelphia during the playoffs. In the fourth quarter, with the game and the season on the line, the ball was in his hands. That’s not gonna be the case in Houston. Jimmy Butler wants to be that guy, and I just don’t see him wanting to sacrifice that role for Houston. …As comprised following that trade, without Clint Capela, without Eric Gordon, without P.J. Tucker, I don’t know if they are the favorite in the Western Conference as they currently stand, if they swap those integral contributing pieces out for Jimmy Butler.”