Kawhi Leonard Injury update

[Roscoe Sheed]

IIRC, there was talk even during the season he was holding out with the Spurs that he may have a chronic condition which will affect him the rest of his career.

Obviously winning the ring with the Raptors probably made teams want to sign him -- he was still under 30 at the time.

But you'd think the Clippers did due diligence or had him examined by their specialists? Or did they want him so bad that they weren't going to sign him with some conditions?

I guess if you give a full max contract, there wouldn't be any conditions.

He's shown glimpses of still being a top 5 player in the league, just hasn't been able to stay on the court long enough and then he sustained more injuries since coming to the Clippers.

for a time last season he looked like peak level Kawhi- MVP caliber actually for over 30 games.

He was even playing defense on elite players at the end of games and locking them down.

This swelling is very concerning, but every time people are ready to bury the guy and say he is done, he comes back and plays great basketball- that what ropes teams back in. He may do so again this season, but they have to very careful managing the condition.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Clearly something seriously wrong with his knee. Not sure why both Kawhi and Clippers try to keep this so secretive EVERYONE knows and expects this.

I already made a reply on the General Board's thread, but I have a hunch this is starting to feel like a coverup. What are Clippers afraid of if they tell the world that Kawhi Leonard is not right? Their greatest fear still remains irrelevancy, being the "Same ol' loser Clippers" and unfairly compared to the Donald Sterling era. There also seems to be some kind of a power struggle from within the organization, coach vs. owner vs. front office with the player's strings being pulled.

Here's a question nobody has asked: what if the doctors said Leonard will never be healthy again and is forced to retire medically? How would Clipper fans respond, what would the shareholders and sponsors say, are Clippers now forced into a fire sale against their will? Keep in mind we had a medical retirement before with Chris Bosh and the Heat in 2017 following the doctor's discovery of blood clots in his body (began with lungs, followed by his calf). Heat would eventually waive his contract on the grounds of a career-ending illness. But they're afraid that any player they trade to as a result of a forced fire sale will end up making the team they helped better than ever, if not lead them to the playoffs, the NBA Finals, or worse, an NBA championship. It's that feeling of, "We had it in the palm of our hands, and we gave it away, and that SUCKS!"

In short, personal emotions are getting in the way of business. I don't think Clippers as a franchise are mature enough to separate between personal emotions and business decisions.

[NickP]

We. Are. Screwed. Again.

[Bobbymcgee]

3 more years of this and 7 years of it in total.

[Sofia]

I'm so sick of this routine every freaking year.

He’ll be fine next month bro, trust us! We swear!

[og15]

Availability is the greatest skill.

Also, Kawhi and his people make it worse. Same thing happened in San Antonio, even the organization won't know something is wrong until the last minute.

I guess the FO just wanted to go through this torture again

[og15]

Clearly something seriously wrong with his knee. Not sure why both Kawhi and Clippers try to keep this so secretive EVERYONE knows and expects this.

I already made a reply on the General Board's thread, but I have a hunch this is starting to feel like a coverup. What are Clippers afraid of if they tell the world that Kawhi Leonard is not right? Their greatest fear still remains irrelevancy, being the "Same ol' loser Clippers" and unfairly compared to the Donald Sterling era. There also seems to be some kind of a power struggle from within the organization, coach vs. owner vs. front office with the player's strings being pulled.

Here's a question nobody has asked: what if the doctors said Leonard will never be healthy again and is forced to retire medically? How would Clipper fans respond, what would the shareholders and sponsors say, are Clippers now forced into a fire sale against their will? Keep in mind we had a medical retirement before with Chris Bosh and the Heat in 2017 following the doctor's discovery of blood clots in his body (began with lungs, followed by his calf). Heat would eventually waive his contract on the grounds of a career-ending illness. But they're afraid that any player they trade to as a result of a forced fire sale will end up making the team they helped better than ever, if not lead them to the playoffs, the NBA Finals, or worse, an NBA championship. It's that feeling of, "We had it in the palm of our hands, and we gave it away, and that SUCKS!"

In short, personal emotions are getting in the way of business. I don't think Clippers as a franchise are mature enough to separate between personal emotions and business decisions.

Considering he had the same issue with the Spurs where Pop would say to reporters that he doesn't know what Kawhi's health status is, "you'll have to ask him", I'm not convinced this is an organization issue.

How come it happens with no one else but Kawhi and it's happened with him on multiple teams?

That's quite the coincidence don't you think?

[KL2]

All you can do is speculate. I see many going with having whatever procedure done after team USA sent him home. A little clean up deal. That lines up with this timeline of strengthening and ramping up through camp up to opening night.

His news aside I like a lot of the stuff mentioned in the press conference.

[wco81]

Maybe KL's heath status figured into the decision on PG.

IF the team feared KL wouldn't be any more available than last season, they thought it wasn't worth committing big money to PG?

[og15]

Maybe KL's heath status figured into the decision on PG.

IF the team feared KL wouldn't be any more available than last season, they thought it wasn't worth committing big money to PG?

I don't think so considering the sides has no momentum on extension discussions long before that.

Kawhi's health was always a concern, but if they were super concerned, they should have not even extended him lol

[Clemenza]

Clearly something seriously wrong with his knee. Not sure why both Kawhi and Clippers try to keep this so secretive EVERYONE knows and expects this.

I already made a reply on the General Board's thread, but I have a hunch this is starting to feel like a coverup. What are Clippers afraid of if they tell the world that Kawhi Leonard is not right? Their greatest fear still remains irrelevancy, being the "Same ol' loser Clippers" and unfairly compared to the Donald Sterling era. There also seems to be some kind of a power struggle from within the organization, coach vs. owner vs. front office with the player's strings being pulled.

Here's a question nobody has asked: what if the doctors said Leonard will never be healthy again and is forced to retire medically? How would Clipper fans respond, what would the shareholders and sponsors say, are Clippers now forced into a fire sale against their will? Keep in mind we had a medical retirement before with Chris Bosh and the Heat in 2017 following the doctor's discovery of blood clots in his body (began with lungs, followed by his calf). Heat would eventually waive his contract on the grounds of a career-ending illness. But they're afraid that any player they trade to as a result of a forced fire sale will end up making the team they helped better than ever, if not lead them to the playoffs, the NBA Finals, or worse, an NBA championship. It's that feeling of, "We had it in the palm of our hands, and we gave it away, and that SUCKS!"

In short, personal emotions are getting in the way of business. I don't think Clippers as a franchise are mature enough to separate between personal emotions and business decisions.

Considering he had the same issue with the Spurs where Pop would say to reporters that he doesn't know what Kawhi's health status is, "you'll have to ask him", I'm not convinced this is an organization issue.

How come it happens with no one else but Kawhi and it's happened with him on multiple teams?

That's quite the coincidence don't you think?

I firmly believe that the Clipps not being able to report his injury status to the media and fans until he and his camp give the say so was on his list of demands along with getting another star to the team. He didn't have that provision in San Antonio and that's why Pop and guys like Tony Parker openly ripped him for not playing. The problem now with us is that the 213 Era is over with, he doesn't play in the post season, and he got his money.. So really there should be no need or reason to cater to him for the rest of his tenure on the Clipps. All the double speak and smoke & mirrors should be a thing of the past.

[playaloc916]

Harden must be thinking Nets deja vu all over again. Went to form a big 3 with Durant and Kyrie, Durant gets hurt and Kyrie doesn't play due to off court issues, and he ends up getting a lot of the blame. Now PG is gone and Kawhi is injured again.

Hopefully one or two players seize the opportunity to help with the scoring load.

[MartinToVaught]

I’ve never seen a GM speak out both sides of his mouth as much as Frank does when it comes to Leonard.

Should've moved on from him. Like another poster said in the general board, Why does the team baby and cater to him as if we're a small market team? PG with all the team suggestions like Wall over Hartenstein and the likes? Enough already! Put the big boy pants on and run this team like its supposed to be ran in a major market. There should be no reason to cater to him anymore now that 213 is over with. You f*cking had SGA, all of our picks, and open cap space at one point, and now this? SMH

I've been saying it since Lob City. Sterling is gone, we're an actual NBA franchise now, the standards should have been raised accordingly. We are way too loyal to mediocrity from the front office to the coaches to the players. We're the Cowboys of the NBA, but without the '70s and '90s to look back fondly on.

[Clemenza]

And Lawrence Frank making a big deal about Team USA/Grant Hill sending Kawhi home when he himself knew that he was injured. What a joke.

[wco81]

The problem is the Clippers don't have draft assets so how would they have moved on from KL?

Unless they expected to get a big haul for him, presuming that other teams would give up a lot when the Clippers were suddenly moving him.

[Sofia]

Just linking a few weird things together, do you think he somehow tweaked or made his injury worse at USA camps, but that was kept under wraps for some reason?

Weird that he was going through the trainings fine and they suddenly pulled the pin.

[jengmann3]

Just linking a few weird things together, do you think he somehow tweaked or made his injury worse at USA camps, but that was kept under wraps for some reason?

Weird that he was going through the trainings fine and they suddenly pulled the pin.

It's very weird. I don't want to be too cynical but.. I think l frank was trying to keep fans excited and also not kill ticket sales. But he was pretty emphatic that kawhi could've played and would've ramped up and looked better with time. But that was two months ago... Missing pre season games or even some games to begin the season.. isn't the biggest deal. But obviously it doesn't inspire confidence and it also just makes u question the decision to give such a lucrative extension after not finishing a playoff series in 3 years. Unless there are some smart clauses and protections

[Clemenza]

Just linking a few weird things together, do you think he somehow tweaked or made his injury worse at USA camps, but that was kept under wraps for some reason?

Weird that he was going through the trainings fine and they suddenly pulled the pin.

It doesn't even matter anymore. Its been all "X-Files, the answer is out there somewhere" sh*t with Kawhi since day 1. I just want them to stop catering to him and simply coach and run the team like how its supposed to be from here on out. Just cut the crap already, we don't need nor care for double talk/smoke & mirrors anymore to help us sleep at night. Its all about player progression and development this year anyways since PG bolted for Philly.

[madmaxmedia]

The problem is the Clippers don't have draft assets so how would they have moved on from KL?

Unless they expected to get a big haul for him, presuming that other teams would give up a lot when the Clippers were suddenly moving him.

With the benefit of hindsight we would have traded him at the ASB last season, but that obviously wasn’t gonna happen then with Kawhi and the team playing so well.

Selling high is hard to do in sports.

Also, I really like James but giving up control of picks for another 2 years (regardless of one year being a swap) had strong “throwing good money after bad” vibes even when the move was made.

[esqtvd]

The problem is the Clippers don't have draft assets so how would they have moved on from KL?

Unless they expected to get a big haul for him, presuming that other teams would give up a lot when the Clippers were suddenly moving him.

With the benefit of hindsight we would have traded him at the ASB last season, but that obviously wasn’t gonna happen then with Kawhi and the team playing so well.

Selling high is hard to do in sports.

Also, I really like James but giving up control of picks for another 2 years (regardless of one year being a swap) had strong “throwing gods money after bad” vibes even when the move was made.

Last gasp for the 213 experiment. Then they finally pulled the plug on it. As it turns out, if KL is going to be MIA, Beard is gonna be the only offense we got. He's not MVP James but he's still a cut above everyone else. The Clippers are already ramping him up for it.

As Lue explained, following the dramatic offseason, The Beard James is slated to assume a much bigger responsibility in guiding the team.

"More pick-and-rolls, scoring the basketball, more taking of shots," Lue said. "With the responsibility of being the best two players with Kawhi, they got to make everyone else better as well, and he understands that."

https://starlocalmedia.com/sports/national/clippers-coach-designing-offense-to-increase-james-hardens-usage-rate/article_660e5a68-6f9d-570f-9f37-e970dbdbf113.html