Kawhi Leonard NOT returning for the beginning of the NBA season!
Kawhi Leonard NOT returning for the beginning of the NBA season! Don’t expect your star player to return to the ClipJoint since tearing his ACL in the postseason late. Why? Because there is no timetable given on the return of “The Klaw” as no one really knows.
Plus, logically, how could someone rehab fully from an ACL tear in just a few months? That would be realistically impossible when it comes October 20th.
“Oh, we don’t even breach that,” Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said when asked if he anticipates Leonard playing this season. “I think at this point, it’s just no one knows when you’re dealing with a recovery from an ACL [injury], the time frame.”
Continued:
“Even just to save you guys [from asking] throughout the year, is no one knows. You just attack it day by day. He has a very detailed plan with a great group, and we’ll just let his body and the doctors tell us when it’s the right time.”
Patrick Williams to miss the start of the regular season!
Patrick Williams to miss the start of the regular season! The Chicago Bulls will start their season without their starting forward as they look to have a good push in the beginning of the season. The cause of Patrick Williams’ injury would result from a severe ankle injury. It will cost him 4-6 weeks, so, expect him to miss the first few games of the season.
This is a definite blow to the team as they want to win, win to get into the playoffs. Chicago will begin the season starting October 20th against Detroit. https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1126826833&show_artwork=true&maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000
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According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, in a rather eye-catching move by both sides, the Indiana Pacers traded Bennedict Mathurin and draft capital to the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac.
The full terms of this transaction sees Indiana landing Zubac and Kobe Brown with Los Angeles landing Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first round picks, and a second round pick.
With the departure of Myles Turner in free agency and them lacking depth at the center position, the Pacers decided to go get a new starting center to boost their odds of success. Tyrese Haliburton will have a new big man to playmake with.
The 2026 first rounder sent by Indiana to Los Angeles is protected 1-4 and 10-30. If the pick doesn’t hit, then the Pacers will send an unprotected 2031 first-round pick. For Los Angeles, the other first-rounder they’ve secured is unprotected for 2029.
Both sides get to fill needs they were looking to fix ahead of the deadline. Los Angeles continued their mission of getting younger and getting into a new era of Los Angeles basketball.
In 28 games, Mathurin is averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
In 43 games, Zubac is averaging 14.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers have traded veteran guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for young point guard Darius Garland.
The full terms of the deal sees Cleveland getting Harden, while Los Angeles gets Garland and a second-round pick. Initially, it was the Cavaliers who wanted a pick, but they were ultimately the ones who gave out draft capital.
Reportedly, over the past couple of days, both the 36-year-old and the Clippers were working together to find him a new home. This comes after the Clippers did not want to give Harden a two-year, $80 million extension. Harden didn’t like that, and he shortly there afterwards requested out of Los Angeles.
In six years, Harden has requested four trades. Since 2020, he has been with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and most recently the Clippers. Cleveland will mark his fifth team in six years.
For Garland, the 26-year-old spent his entire career with the Cavaliers. Throughout the season, he has been facing injuries to his feet/toes. He has not played a game since January 14th. Garland is currently signed through the 2027-28 season on his five-year, $193 million extension. This extension was signed back in 2022.
According to Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Clippers have decided to send Kawhi Leonard home due to reported left knee irritation. This will see him miss their final two road trip games against the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls.
It’s unclear the severity of this injury, but Los Angeles will reevaluate the 34-year-old when they return back home on Wednesday. His status for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers is currently unknown.
