L.A. Clippers general manager Lawrence Frank has issued something of a rebuff to Team USA's apparent decision to compel All-NBA Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard to withdraw from the program — prior 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 team practices, and apparently Team USA was unhappy with what it saw out of him enough in practices to ask him to move on.
"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it's in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris," USA Basketball said in a press statement announcing the team's decision to move on.
Leonard was ultimately replaced by All-Defensive combo guard Derrick White, fresh off winning a title with the Boston Celtics.
Read More: NBA Champion to Replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA in Paris Olympics: Report
Per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Frank indicated that Leonard had appeared healthy during early team practices, and argues that the six-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year was essentially given the boot while healthy enough to play.
Leonard was only available for a pair of games during the Clippers' first round series loss against the Dallas Mavericks this spring, as he struggled to play through right knee inflammation. He was dismissed from Team USA prior to the club's first exhibition game last week, an eventual win over Team Canada.
In terms of Leonard's knee health ahead of Clippers training camp, Youngmisuk reports that Frank expects the two-time Finals MVP to be available.
The Clippers have seen a major sea change this season, as Leonard's All-NBA partner for five disappointing seasons in L.A., star forward Paul George, opted to depart the team after contract negotiations got surprisingly icy.
According to Frank (via Youngmisuk), at least, he still believes L.A. can win it all, even with George now plying his trade on a $212 million four-year maximum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"Nothing's changed with PG leaving," Frank insisted. "The goal remains the same... we expect to be highly competitive... we are not all of the sudden with Paul out, let's run and do something reckless."
When healthy, Leonard remains one of the league's best players. But injuries have gotten the better of him for much of the latter half of his career. The 33-year-old San Diego State product was largely available for L.A. during the 2023-24 season, appearing in 68 games and averaging 23.7 points on a .525/.417/.885 slash line, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks a night. As usual, however, by the postseason he was hampered by injuries. Leonard has now missed some or all of the past four consecutive postseasons with ailments. In 2022, he was still recovering from an ACL tear as the Clippers failed to advance beyond the Play-In Tournament, but otherwise, he's managed to at least play some postseason games.
What the future holds for Leonard and the Clippers is unclear. It sure doesn't look like another 51-31 season is in the cards.
About the writer
Newsweek contributing writer Alex Kirschenbaum is a hoops fanatic who has managed to parlay his passion into a writing career. ... Read more
