Dear Kawhi,

I wanted to help you with your free agency decision. I made a list of the top 10 reasons but there were too many good reasons so I had to make it eleven reasons.

Home

You can go home to Southern California. It’s going to either be the Clippers or the Lakers. You can play in front of your family; not just your immediate family who can travel but your entire extended family.

2. Your Post Championship Reaction

Usually, people are extremely happy after winning the greatest prize in their sport. But you didn’t make your decision right away after winning a championship. In your heart, if you win, you should know that you want to stay. But you were noncommittal after the win and even during that parade. This should be an easy decision but you hesitated, it’s a sign. If you have so many doubts about the situation in Toronto, you know it’s not right. Perhaps, maybe you should let the decision linger so you sound like you thought about it since you did win a championship and Toronto did treat him so well. Break their heart softly. Follow your heart. Toronto is great but you know you don’t want to be there.

3. Toronto is Canada

First of all, there is nothing wrong with Canada nor Toronto. People in Canada are really nice but Toronto is cold. People from the LA area hate the cold. We think 60 degrees is cold; now imagine 30 degrees. But people in Toronto are nothing like people in LA. They might as well be Martians. You are a southern California dude. You know you hate Toronto. Don’t live another five years there in those crappy cold winters.



4. NBA Finals Certainty

Look it’s hard to guarantee championships but you know you’ll be deep into the playoffs with excellent opportunities for championships. The Lakers have more certainty of championships in the future. With the Clippers, you have Lou William, Montrezl Harrell, and Danilo Gallinari. With the Raptors, you have Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanFleet. Those are great teammates and support players but in the Lakers, you have Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Kyle Kuzma. These are also great teammates but they are super players that guarantee you the NBA Finals every single year. You can win another 3–4 championships. Think of your statue outside of Staples Center where your grandkids can see.

5. The Clippers Will Have to Rebuild Next Year

So if you join the Clippers, you will have Lou Williams, Montrezl, and Gallinari for only one year because they all are free agents. After them, you have only the three rookies from last year in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson, and Landry Shamet. The free agent class in 2020 will feature….Gordon Hayward, Draymond Green, and your ex-teammate Gallinari who is injury prone anyways. 2020 is one of the weakest free agencies in a decade. You will have to rebuild in 2020 and rebuilding will suck. Remember the Spurs?

6. The Raptors Will Have to Rebuild Next Year Too.

So if you join the Raptors, you have the same problem because Lowry, Siakam, and Fred VanFleet are free agents. Lowry is getting older and slower. Siakam and VanFleet will have to get paid so they may leave. There’s no certainty in that roster and you know that roster is going to have to be put on your back to dragged through that newly stacked 76ers and Bucks teams. Then the Nets when Durant comes back. Don’t make life hard on yourself. Life is hard enough.

7. The Lakers are Already Built for the Next Four Years.

Yes, Lebron will be there for another three years. Kyle Kuzma will resign for another four. Anthony Davis will sign for another five. You can be here and not worry about rebuilding like what happened in San Antonio or what will happen with the Clippers or Raptors in a year. You can just do what you do best. Play basketball and win. Easy peasy Yeezy.

8. Lebron James.

Not only can he help offensively and defensively, but Lebron James can also help with the media and attention which you don’t seem to be the biggest fan of. But keep in mind, Lebron James is the best passer that you have been with since…never. Ok, Kyle Lowry had a solid assist average last year but that was his career high and not guarantee that’s not an anomaly. On the other hand, Lebron can get that average every single year without even trying. But no one is going to double team Lowry and give you that type of space like Lebron. Let’s face the facts, Lebron can do everything that you don’t want to do. Score. Rebound. Pass. Lead. Whatever. If you like help, Lebron is your Robin.

9. Anthony Davis

He is the most dominant and versatile big man not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is one of the few players to average 25 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in multiple seasons. In 2017–2018 years, he was second in scoring, fifth in rebounding, and first in blocks. In 2016–2017, fourth in points, seventh in rebounding, and second in blocks. The year before, seventh in points, ninth in rebounds, and fourth in blocks. Top ten in scoring, rebounds, and blocks in the last three years. In his seven years in the league, he has averaged over 20 points, over 10 rebounds, and two blocks in six of his seven years. It was only in his first year, he didn’t get those numbers but that was because he was a rookie and didn’t play enough. He can play inside or spread the floor for you to operate freely. He shoots over 33% from three and if you look at his free throw percentage, he can probably improve on that number. He is only freaking 26 years old. He is young and will be in his prime as you start exiting your prime. The best thing of all, he can play with him for the next four to five years. Championship bound for years even if Lebron leaves after three. Dynasty bound!

10. Revenge and Greg Popovich

There’s probably a high likelihood that you wanted to be traded to one of the LA teams or New York in the first place. Out of respect to the Spurs, you gave them a list of teams. But New York didn’t have the trade pieces and Greg Popovich refuses to help teams in their conference especially the Lakers. So they didn’t trade you to any of the teams you wanted. With the trade that the Lakers netted Paul Gasol, Popovich said the following:

“What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade.”

The ultimate revenge against a coach who first didn’t believe you were hurt and outright didn’t trust you then later traded you to a team you have no affinity of joining is beating him. You can play his teams multiple times a year and knock them out of the playoff every single year. What is better revenge than denying success to that coach for the rest of his career?

11. This is your life.

This is the first time in your NBA career that you can decide where you want to be. Don’t let being traded to a place by a coach and team who didn’t trust you be the determining factor in deciding where you will spend the next 4–5 years of your prime years. They traded you to Toronto so they don’t have to play you so that they have a better chance in the Western Conference; not because they respected your wishes. If they could have traded you to Alaska, they would have. But this is your choice. Not a twist of fate that took you to Toronto. You can go where you want and play with who you want. Life is short. Look at what happened to Kevin Durant. You can go to a team that really wants you in a place that loves you and is home.

So go ahead. Just sign with the Lakers. It’s all good.

Sincerely,

Ed Wu

Loyal Lakers Fan

PS I’m sure the Lakers will give you whatever number you want.