Despite signing 2 major stars to a competitive basketball team the Clippers have still come up short in the playoffs. Should the Clippers break up their dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard?
Kawhi Leonard shook up the basketball world in 2019 when he became one of the first major stars to leave a team after winning a championship. Leonard opted to move back to his hometown of Los Angeles, California. Even though he won a championship in Toronto, he longed for the warm air and beautiful weather of Southern California. Leonard now lives in San Diego and takes helicopters to the games. With Leonard giving up so much to just be part of his hometown it once seemed unfathomable that he would leave. Yet after another injury and report that there are issues once again between him and the Clippers medical staff, there are now rumors that Kawhi Leonard might be looking to make an exit. Leonard’s unhappiness with the San Antonio medical staff was a major reason he left the rock-solid franchise.
Kawhi has degenerative tendinopathy. It most typically occurs in athletes due to continued overloading of the tendon. At this stage, the changes in the tendon are characterized by cell death and general disorganization of tendon fibers. The changes are now considered irreversible and the prognosis is poor. This is why he is approved for load management. He is not being weak or lazy, this condition will never improve.
It is my opinion that in no way, shape, or form should the Clippers move on from Leonard. Although the injury in the playoffs was devastating Leonard still represents the Clippers’ best chance to have an elite scorer and defender in the playoffs. Leonard raises his game like very few in the NBA can. While Paul George is a wonderful player, he is not the centerpiece to build around like Leonard. If it were not for questions about his health, we would not even be having this discussion. Right now at the leading reputable offshore sportsbooks such as Bovada, BookMaker, and BetOnline, you cannot even find NBA odds displayed on whether he will return. This shows that the sharpest bookmakers in the business have no idea of Leonard’s intentions.
Unlike other athletes who are boisterous, Leonard is one of the quietest and reserved stars we have seen recently. Leonard likes to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, which is rare in the “look at me” social media generation. This makes it hard for us to gauge where Leonard’s interest really lies. Does he want out of Los Angeles from a basketball perspective? Is he tired of Paul George as a running mate? Would he be happier in Dallas or Miami, 2 teams that he is linked to being interested in joining? While nobody knows these answers from Leonard, from the Clippers perspective the answer is clear.
The Clippers must do everything in their power to retain Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi is one of the few players that can completely take over a playoff game. He and Paul George seem to be hitting their stride as teammates, as they’ve worked out some of the complications of being 2 ball-dominant wings. These chemistry issues take a season, or sometimes 2 seasons, to work out The Clippers really seemed to have everything coming together towards the end of this season.
This chemistry, combined with the fact that the Clippers now have fans back in their stadium means the team can continue to improve. The window is far from being shut.
The Clippers closed out the season and they were my NBA pick to make the NBA finals in the West. Unfortunately, the injury to Leonard dashed their hopes as George was not able to carry them past the Suns on his own. It can be disheartening to have a season derailed by injuries, ask the Clippers’ LA counterparts the Lakers, who have their own fragile superstar in Anthony Davis, who also was unable to finish the playoffs. I can understand a team not wanting to invest long-term in someone with Kawhi’s condition, but players like him are not easy to come by. The Clippers are 28 million dollars over the cap. If Leonard leaves they will not have the extra salary to replace him unless he agrees to a sign and trade. However, it seems simple that with some minor retooling, this team with Leonard will still be a top contender in the West. Unless Kawhi absolutely wants out, the Clippers need to use their best efforts in order to get him to stay for another season.
Very few players can impact a game, especially a playoff game like Kawhi Leonard can. Without Leonard, this team returns to being a solid Western Conference team, but they are no longer a true contender. The Clippers need to do their best to resolve whatever issues Leonard has with the medical staff and get him back on the court and playing for the Clippers. If the Clippers want to be a contender, they need Leonard to return.