KI played 67 games last season.
KL 60
Year before Kyrie played 60,
KL played 9

over 8 seasons.........

KI 508 games
KL 467 games

Take out lowest season for both.....

9 for KL = 458 games
51 for KI = 457 games

Keep drilling it down, Kawhi only two seasons played over 70 games. I took out the 9 game season the anomaly. But looking at Kawhi career he has not exactly a high per season tally either.
Kawhi is the hot dot. Flavor of the month. Kyrie is the misfit outcast. Its not always been this way.
Given KL diva act last year and Spurs reaction to it one might take another look and consider Spurs might have had their fill of KL not playing thru pain?
His introspective coolness was seen as selfish or at best borderline personality disorder. Personally I could care less, but it went into the lockerroom .
I saw KL play thru pain and rise up to MVP status. Its a contract year, a free agent year and he had a magical season. But going forward Im not sure either of these guys are durable.
Not making a case for either but objectivity need be reviewed.
Kawhi last season with Spurs was viewed as a "head case".
Win a title he is "eccentric!" Same dude. They get older does he become more guarded about his health?

Nalod wrote:Kyrie after the 2016 playoffs was a hero and finally got to show the world what he can do.
This year Kawhi free from Spurs legacy really showed his greatness.
Both are free this year.
Kyrie and Kawhi both played 8 seasons.

KI played 67 games last season.
KL 60
Year before Kyrie played 60,
KL played 9

over 8 seasons.........

KI 508 games
KL 467 games

Take out lowest season for both.....

9 for KL = 458 games
51 for KI = 457 games

Keep drilling it down, Kawhi only two seasons played over 70 games. I took out the 9 game season the anomaly. But looking at Kawhi career he has not exactly a high per season tally either.
Kawhi is the hot dot. Flavor of the month. Kyrie is the misfit outcast. Its not always been this way.
Given KL diva act last year and Spurs reaction to it one might take another look and consider Spurs might have had their fill of KL not playing thru pain?
His introspective coolness was seen as selfish or at best borderline personality disorder. Personally I could care less, but it went into the lockerroom .
I saw KL play thru pain and rise up to MVP status. Its a contract year, a free agent year and he had a magical season. But going forward Im not sure either of these guys are durable.
Not making a case for either but objectivity need be reviewed.
Kawhi last season with Spurs was viewed as a "head case".
Win a title he is "eccentric!" Same dude. They get older does he become more guarded about his health?

I think this all durability and head-case talk is not driving the point.
You look at the impact on the game.
KL is making everyone around him better. This Raptors would go nowhere without him.
And he is a force by himself making the opponent completely change their game to contain him.
Kyrie need Bron type to play with him to get the best of Kyrie.
So in package with KD or KL he is valuable. By himself he is just a distraction.
He is a child-man and need a farther figure on the team to keep him in check.

Nalod wrote:

arkrud wrote:Kawhi is not a typical vocal leader.
He grow up as a player watching up to great Duncan and the dynasty.
He has this mark of quietness and grace.
To me he is the closest thing to Perry personality from the big FA group.
He and players personalities like him is what we need to add to the team to build the coherent unit.
The band of brothers to do it all together. This is the only path to the top in team sport.
KD is shaky but still he can be a part of it. He became a part of it with Warriors but never get the credits due.
Kyrie is the other kind. He is all-alone and at the same time need some guidance.
We do not have luxury to incorporate talent with so many personal deficiencies.

Again, I’m not in disagreement with you except the romantic notion of Kawhi being a beautiful soul.
The tragic here is Durant blew his heel and I’m real not thrilled with giving him 5 years.
After that Kawhi would be my choice but its his call to accept our timeline and by into it.
IF not, I’d rather we go after Russell and a short deal with Boogie or Randle.
Dallas has Doncic, traded for KP and his room for one.

KD is a taught choice for FO. Big risk/big reward move.
I do not think any team will be able to turn him off if he will come knocking.
But if all FAs will go for sure things and not for uncertain glory we have to execute plan C - the slow rebuild.
Which is in fact the plan A.

Moonangie wrote:Gotta figure the stats into the equation...

https://nypost.com/2019/06/27/achilles-injury-return-stat-that-should-give-kevin-durant-suitors-pause/

KD might simply not be worth it now. IF we can get a solid year from him near the end of his deal with us, it creates too tight a window for contention. I only pull the trigger on KD at this point if we have no other pathways forward. But KL should be our primary focus if he shows any interest.

KL/KD can be a packaged deal...
This will be the biggest money-making opportunity in the history of NBA.