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 HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, while James has expressed interest in staying with the Los Angeles Clippers, he is trending towards declining his player option for a better deal.
For those curious, his player option is worth $35.6 million.
With both sides wanting to continue their partnership, it’s expected his next contract extension will see him play through the 2026-27 season.
It’s unclear how much the veteran guard is seeking, as his current contract saw him making $35 million per season. Since 2022, Harden has been working off two-year contracts worth significant money.
Last season, in 79 games played, the 35-year-old averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. This is back-to-back seasons of playing 70+ games. The last time Harden played in 70+ games before then was back in 2018-19 with the Houston Rockets.
According to the man himself, next season will most likely be the final season fans see Nicolas Batum, as he is ready to ride off into the sunset.
The 36-year-old has a $4.9 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers for next season, which he’s expected to pick up. Batum played in 78 games, averaging 17.5 minutes per appearance.
“There’s a very, very good chance that the next season will be my last,” Batum said.
He will be entering his 18th season in the NBA, and playing his sixth season with Los Angeles. In total, Batum has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In 1,131 career games, Batum averaged 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He was a former first-round pick out of the 2008 draft class.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers have signed Ben Simmons to a contract for the remainder of the season. This comes shortly after the Brooklyn Nets bought out Simmons’ expiring contract.
Los Angeles had an open roster spot after acquiring Bogdan Bogdanovic, Drew Eubanks, MarJon Beauchamp, and Patty Mills in deadline trades.
The 28-year-old will join a stacked Clippers team with tremendous depth and playoff experience. They are currently 28-23 on the season, which puts them seventh in the West.
