Intangible Reasons Kawhi should chose Phoenix
Robert Sarver sucks. We all know it and we need a different talking point. That one is old, tired, and worn out.
But plenty of organizations have overcome bad leadership only to succeed. Plenty of individuals have overcome terrible bosses.
The Phoenix Suns should be not different.
But James Dolan sucks too, and if you ask Knicks fans, he’s the worst owner in the NBA.
So if the Knicks and Suns owners both suck, then what does it matter which one a player is playing for? There are going to be issues regardless.
Not to forget: there are plenty of prominent current and former players, as well as athletes in other sports, who have actually espoused positive opinions in regards to Sarver, including Larry Fitzgerald – for what that’s worth.
Maybe Sarver can change? Maybe he can be a good owner?
Phoenix Suns
I for one am not holding my breath, but if he met with Kawhi Leonard personally and offered him The Max no strings attached, it surely couldn’t hurt.
But the reasons why the Suns should outrank the Knicks goes beyond which owner sucks less.
When New York hired David Fizdale prior to last season, fans and talking-heads alike lauded the hire as the best they could possibly do.
Personally, I do not believe that for as charismatic as Fizdale is that he has ever proven to be that exceptional of a head coach, and that if he hadn’t have said “how’s that for data,” literally no one would have thought twice about the hire.
When the Phoenix Suns hired Monty Williams, not only were fans over the moon for the hire, but league-wide James Jones and Robert Sarver have not only been celebrated for the decision, but their ability as well as they apparently stole him from the Lakers as well.
If that isn’t another reason for Kawhi to not only consider the Suns but potentially choose Phoenix, then he isn’t open-minded and truly has chosen his team already.
And then there are taxes.
Yeah, it’s not the sexiest talking point in the world, but let’s face it: no matter how socialist one claims to be, even Bernie Sanders doesn’t give up his money.
Kawhi Leonard might make enough to not care, but according to taxfoundation.org, New York State’s Marginal Tax Rate is twice as high as Arizona’s (8.82% to 4.54%), and for what it’s worth Lakers fans: California’s is 13.30%.
You can (kind of) see how much Kawhi would be paying in N.Y. over Phoenix here on smartasset.com here and here, evidence that if nothing else, he’d actually keep a heckofa lot more in Arizona than in New York.
You’re fooling yourself as a Suns fan if at one time or another you haven’t thought to yourself for at least a moment or two “why shouldn’t Kevin Durant chose the Phoenix Suns? They are just as much ‘one player away’ from being competitive as the Knicks and Nets, plus not nearly as dysfunctional as the Lakers.”
But what if we were all focusing on the wrong superstar? What if Durant is far too emotionally broken to come to the Valley of the Suns, but Kawhi has the perfect temperament?
James Jones should ask Kawhi Leonard for a meeting, because if he’s willing to grant one to the New York Knicks, he should be made aware that the Phoenix Suns have a much better sales pitch.