Rob Mahoney

How many players are worth violating the salary cap rules for?

And really, it's a select class, and Kawhi Leonard is among them.

I think it's totally fair.

I agree with you that Khan's been amazing.

He'd be a totally worthy winner.

You're going to zag.

I am zagging.

Here's the thing.

I kind of resent the idea that this is a zag.

I think this is a very close race.

I think it's really, again, splitting hairs between these two guys.

And to me, everything you're describing is true in terms of Khan being foundational, in terms of propelling the Hornets forward.

All of that is obvious if you watch them play and him play.

What Cooper has been asked to do is harder, like fundamentally harder than what Khan has been asked to do this season.

He's been asked to do more as a part of that.

And I think even while all that has been true, has had a better all around season in terms of what he's been able to put on the floor.

I say that for a bunch of different reasons.

I mean, he he handles the ball more than Khan while turning the ball over less while setting up his teammates more.

I think in terms of the scoring pop, we've seen it of late, but really it's been there all season in terms of what kind of score he can be.

And productivity-wise has been a notch above, understandably, given his role.