Clippers GM Claps Again At USA Basketball’s Dismissal of Kawhi Leonard

L.A. Clippers normal supervisor Lawrence Frank has issued one thing of a rebuff to Group USA’s obvious determination to compel All-NBA Clippers small ahead Kawhi Leonard to withdraw from this system — previous to what would have been his first Olympics, slated to tip off later this month in Paris.

Leonard had touched down in Las Vegas for crew practices, and apparently Group USA was sad with what it noticed out of him sufficient in practices to ask him to maneuver on.

“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the previous a number of weeks and had a number of robust practices in Las Vegas. He felt able to compete. Nonetheless, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it is in his greatest curiosity to spend the rest of the summer time making ready for the upcoming season somewhat than taking part within the Olympic Video games in Paris,” USA Basketball mentioned in a press assertion asserting the crew’s determination to maneuver on.

Leonard was finally changed by All-Defensive combo guard Derrick White, contemporary off successful a title with the Boston Celtics.

Learn Extra: NBA Champion to Exchange Kawhi Leonard on Group USA in Paris Olympics: Report

Per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Frank indicated that Leonard had appeared wholesome throughout early crew practices, and argues that the six-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months was primarily given the boot whereas wholesome sufficient to play.

Leonard was solely obtainable for a pair of video games throughout the Clippers’ first spherical collection loss towards the Dallas Mavericks this spring, as he struggled to play by way of proper knee irritation. He was dismissed from Group USA previous to the membership’s first exhibition sport final week, an eventual win over Group Canada.

By way of Leonard’s knee well being forward of Clippers coaching camp, Youngmisuk experiences that Frank expects the two-time Finals MVP to be obtainable.

The Clippers have seen a serious sea change this season, as Leonard’s All-NBA accomplice for 5 disappointing seasons in L.A., star ahead Paul George, opted to depart the crew after contract negotiations bought surprisingly icy.

In line with Frank (through Youngmisuk), at the least, he nonetheless believes L.A. can win all of it, even with George now plying his commerce on a $212 million four-year most cope with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Nothing’s modified with PG leaving,” Frank insisted. “The aim stays the identical… we anticipate to be extremely aggressive… we’re not the entire sudden with Paul out, let’s run and do one thing reckless.”

When wholesome, Leonard stays one of many league’s greatest gamers. However accidents have gotten the higher of him for a lot of the latter half of his profession. The 33-year-old San Diego State product was largely obtainable for L.A. throughout the 2023-24 season, showing in 68 video games and averaging 23.7 factors on a .525/.417/.885 slash line, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks an evening. As traditional, nonetheless, by the postseason he was hampered by accidents. Leonard has now missed some or the entire previous 4 consecutive postseasons with illnesses. In 2022, he was nonetheless recovering from an ACL tear because the Clippers did not advance past the Play-In Event, however in any other case, he is managed to at the least play some postseason video games.

What the long run holds for Leonard and the Clippers is unclear. It certain would not appear like one other 51-31 season is within the playing cards.