Kawhi Leonard Injury update

[KL2]

It’s why I don’t like target dates being released. It’s always pushed back even if it’s just a game.

No way he released his new commercial on his Twitter account if he wasn’t close to returning. That’s way extra even for his camp.

[LamarWho]

Who knows, maybe he'll play tomorrow, maybe not. No one on this planet knows besides him and uncle Dennis.

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[Clemenza]

Unpopular opinion: What's the rush? Have Kawhi return after the all star break. A later return could mean more playoff games from him.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Unpopular opinion: What's the rush? Have Kawhi return after the all star break. A later return could mean more playoff games from him.

it is totally unpredictable how his knee will react. I think they have to be cautious, but if he is ready to go- put him on the court and be careful with his minutes and don't play him back to backs.

[LamarWho]

Unpopular opinion: What's the rush? Have Kawhi return after the all star break. A later return could mean more playoff games from him.

Trust me if he's not 120% ready, his camp won't allow him to play.

[KingCrimzzon]

Unpopular opinion: What's the rush? Have Kawhi return after the all star break. A later return could mean more playoff games from him.

it is totally unpredictable how his knee will react. I think they have to be cautious, but if he is ready to go- put him on the court and be careful with his minutes and don't play him back to backs.

Unpredictable per Kawhi: Leonard was asked what would signal to him about how his knees are feeling, whether after games or practices. He said he wasn't sure and that he woke up recently and "it was flared up and I couldn't move, so now I'm just keeping it moving and I don't know, it's just day to day."

[Roscoe Sheed]

Unpopular opinion: What's the rush? Have Kawhi return after the all star break. A later return could mean more playoff games from him.

it is totally unpredictable how his knee will react. I think they have to be cautious, but if he is ready to go- put him on the court and be careful with his minutes and don't play him back to backs.

Unpredictable per Kawhi: Leonard was asked what would signal to him about how his knees are feeling, whether after games or practices. He said he wasn't sure and that he woke up recently and "it was flared up and I couldn't move, so now I'm just keeping it moving and I don't know, it's just day to day."

That’s concerning- I thought he was talking about last season. Didn’t know it was still swelling up

[KL2]

I thought he was talking about last season too.

[esqtvd]

I thought he was talking about last season too.

Typical. The Sphinx. Speaks in riddles.

As I've said all along, look at Kawhi's history with both the Spurs and the Raptors. Finals MVP but not The Man. The straw that stirs the drink. We have that for the first time since he came here. Podcast PG is out of the way and Beard is The Man. Norman is the 2nd option. Zu is even becoming the 3rd.

Add Kawhi to any winning team and you might just get a champion. If you can keep him on the court. I said we had a "Kawhi-sized hole," and his arrival made every Clipper better. 20-25 minutes of maybe the best role player-glue guy in NBA history is where he needs to be. 36-42 minutes per game--even when the playoffs start--is not sustainable.

You is what you is, and he is what he is. I don't think he dogs it at all, and I think this latest comeback proves it. We're looking at a Bill Walton situation here: The spirit is willing but the knees are weak.

[madmaxmedia]

Would the Clippers be willing to move Leonard for salary cap relief?

The Blazers have players that could contribute now, several on shorter contracts.

The Blazers franchise needs this year's pick to be a foundational piece, but could potentially offer future draft capitol.

Trading him in the middle of last season would have been selling high, trading him now would be selling low. So we wouldn't move him just to get off his contract, AFAIK we're not looking for cap relief. We know he's a huge injury risk, but signing him to that contract is water under the bridge, and I think our roster is sort of structured around getting him back so this is how we're gonna roll.

If he actually comes back next week, plays 8-10 games before the trade deadline while putting up solid numbers, what is his trade value ?

We all know Kawhi is often the best player when he is on the court, but I think we are living in a fantasy world by thinking we will be a contender with Kawhi on the roster. We need to trade him for cap relief and picks, or he needs to retire. I just don't want this to be a distraction and false hope for the team and the fans.

I don't think 8-10 games is enough to convince anyone he'll last the whole season and a playoffs. And a trade will in all likelihood involve getting significant money back as well (and not a star either.) I think what's more likely is not cap relief or good draft pics, but an aging star with a similar contract who is higher floor/lower ceiling. I'd entertain that, it might be possible if Kawhi plays well all the way up to the ASB?

If you want pure cap relief then we're not getting much back in the way of picks, that's an option too but I'll leave it to others to analyze how it would impact our cap space and how much flexibility that would actually give us in the offseason. Maybe it would be worth it, just like how we did after PG left.

I don't think any of us think we are a top contender or anything with Kawhi. But it's been a fun year without him already, so I feel like we are kinda playing with house money here and I am willing to roll the dice on Kawhi and hope for the best. I don't think he's a distraction to the team, and I think he slides in perfectly on this roster as well.

[LamarWho]

Welp, just keep your expectation low

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[esqtvd]

Welp, just keep your expectation low

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20 mpg for now. I approve. I've always been wtf about taking him from no minutes to 40. Also glad to see him gently playing himself into shape. He still always contributes with his basketball IQ alone. Also better to not try to wedge him into crunch time after cooling off and sitting for 45 minutes.

B2B coming up: Nets Wednesday, up to Portland on Thursday then off until Sunday to face the Lakers at the Ballmerdome. I don't think the shortish plane flight is terribly taxing, so resting vs the hapless Nets then playing in the Blazers game gives him 2 days off before and after.

[Clemenza]

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Kawhi is offically injured just like a figured. Norm injury more serious than I thought, that's sucks. Not mad or pissed. Start the development up now! Get Cam Christie and Flowers up to the main team. Waive Patty Mills and get Jordan Miller a standard NBA contract. Not even saying this wins us games, but that's out the window anyways with Kawhi and Norm out. Not even sure Ben Simmons is worth keeping around at this point. Just time to see who who and what's what going into the future. We'll definitely slide into the play in or maybe further.

[esqtvd]

the latest as of 3PM Monday 2/24

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[KL2]

Leonard is not on the injury report for tomorrow. I’m surprised.

[esqtvd]

Leonard is not on the injury report for tomorrow. I’m surprised.

I'm gonna guess that Kawhi is solely oriented toward making it through the full playoff schedule, with the org's blessing. They might not even be oriented toward a top-6 finish. I think he's only going at 80% even when he does play, just enough to stay in game shape.

Things might not be as bad as they look. God knows we've tried everything else, from overcautiousness to trying to play 70 games. Let Kawhi be Kawhi.

[donemilio21]

Leonard is not on the injury report for tomorrow. I’m surprised.

I'm gonna guess that Kawhi is solely oriented toward making it through the full playoff schedule, with the org's blessing. They might not even be oriented toward a top-6 finish. I think he's only going at 80% even when he does play, just enough to stay in game shape.

Things might not be as bad as they look. God knows we've tried everything else, from overcautiousness to trying to play 70 games. Let Kawhi be Kawhi.

maybe the goal is just to get a play-in spot, so Kawhi only has to play 1 or 2 games then head into the offseason to prepare for the next season.

[esqtvd]

Leonard is not on the injury report for tomorrow. I’m surprised.

I'm gonna guess that Kawhi is solely oriented toward making it through the full playoff schedule, with the org's blessing. They might not even be oriented toward a top-6 finish. I think he's only going at 80% even when he does play, just enough to stay in game shape.

Things might not be as bad as they look. God knows we've tried everything else, from overcautiousness to trying to play 70 games. Let Kawhi be Kawhi.

maybe the goal is just to get a play-in spot, so Kawhi only has to play 1 or 2 games then head into the offseason to prepare for the next season.

Sounds like you're being sarcastic. I don't think any of these guys dog it and just collect the paycheck. Not even Simmons.

Well, maybe Simmons. But hey, here he is, playing for the minimum. I will say that there's no glory in the modern NBA for playing hurt. When he plays at all, Embiid ALWAYS plays hurt. Every day of his NBA career. Anybody over 6'5" or so--these guys' bodies are freakish, and are not designed for the abuse they take.

Do they have egos? Yes. And unlike an NFL lineman, they have a statline to preserve. Playing hurt at 50% or even 80% gets you nothing but hate and disgrace, and costs you money to boot.

Kawhi was probably the first one to figure it all out. The Spurs were the NBA gold standard, and Pop was the NBA coaching gold standard. And Kawhi was like, fk this. This is a business and I'm the product.

Don't give me that rah-rah sh*t. Ballmer signed Blake as a "Clipper For Life" then dumped him like a dog 3 months later. And sent him to the worst team in the league. Thanks for nothing, you pricks.