The future regarding Kawhi Leonard and his tenure with the Spurs is tenuous at the moment. The Spurs have commented very little on the apparent discord, while Leonard has failed to provide any explanation whatsoever. Reportedly, team doctors have cleared Leonard to play, while Leonard’s independent doctors have evidently not.
And while his Spurs teammates appear to be perplexed by his decision not to play, Vincent Goodwill of Bleacher Report opines that Leonard is making an intelligent business decision by waiting until he feels completely ready to step on the court. Per Goodwill, one need not look any further back than to last season, when Isaiah Thomas courageously played through a significant hip injury and the death of his sister, only to see his opportunity for a maximum contract become a pipe dream, at best.
As one anonymous Western Conference executive put it, “Look at Isaiah’s situation. Are you kidding me? Cost that guy a whole bunch of money by coming out trying to play.” Reportedly, long-tenured medical personnel for the Celtics who treated Thomas advised him his hip couldn’t get worse by playing, creating an atmosphere where players aren’t simply taking the word of team doctors anymore (e.g. Leonard and the Spurs). “A lot of these guys are starting to have their own workout people, medical people,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “They’re paying these guys, and a lot of times these guys have a different opinion than the team.”
As has been well-documented, Leonard can be offered a Designated Veteran Extension this summer, but given the state of the relationship between him and the Spurs right now, it remains to be seen whether an extension is still likely.
There is more news out of the Southwest Division:
- In a related story, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press opines that the Spurs are at least partly to blame for the Leonard situation, writing that secrecy and unwillingness to answer certain questions has long been a characteristic of the Spurs’ organization, meaning it’s hard to blame Leonard, having never played for another franchise, for remaining so tight-lipped throughout the entire ordeal.
- While neither the Grizzlies nor any other team – outside of Dallas – was ever formally punished by the league office for apparent tanking, several franchises, including Memphis, received a direct message from the NBA against tanking, reports Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. Per NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, “We had conversations with several teams with what the product was they were putting on the floor. I’ll leave it at that.”
- Michael Wallace of Grind City Media delves into the Grizzlies offseason outlook, starting with power forward JaMychal Green. Green, due $7.87MM next season, averaged career highs in points (10.3), rebounds (8.4) and assists (1.4) per game this season. Per Wallace, Green remains a bargain for Memphis, but he must continue to develop his ability to make plays and operate in space moving forward.
I don’t see how the situation of Isaiah Thomas is remotely comparable. He hurt his hip and then tried to play less than a week later, without any clearance from any doctor. Leonard has been cleared medically for half a year.
I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but it’s definitely different.
Isaiah was likely cleared and told by doctors that playing through the injury wouldn’t worsen it. In “The Book of Isaiah,” IT says that the entire medical staff, who’d been there for years, was fired for a reason everyone would find out later. My guess is that they cleared him and then Ainge found out how much worse his hip injury became, eventually flipping him, Crowder, and the BKN 1st for Kyrie
Reread it, slower. IT listened to the doctors, and it got worse and his season was a dumpster fire this year. Likely getting a 1 yr prove it deal. Kawhi sustained another injury after 9 games. Clearly doesn’t feel ready to go despite Spurs doctors, Hes not going to listen to them, come back questionable and impact his career long term. So IT chose to listen, Kawhi chose Not go listen. Its two players at a similar fork in the road. One leads to $$$$$$ the other leads to …..
The Celtics did not tell Isaiah to play through it. He didn’t get clearance. He wanted to play through it because he wanted to seem tough.
What they told him is that playing probably would not make it worse. That’s not the same thing as clearance to play. Everyone knew he wasn’t supposed to be playing with the injury.
If you go back and read the articles from last year’s playoffs you’ll see. I distinctly remember it cause I’m a Celtics fan.
The stuff with his sister also factored in he wanted to play to cope with her loss. But the point is it was his choice not the team’s.
I get what this article is saying, I’m just saying the article is incorrect.
Literally states in the article he was advised it couldn’t get any worse.
Ok, and again, I’m literally saying that the article is wrong. It’s revisionist history from national writers who weren’t actually paying attention when the situation went down.
link to masslive.com
“He was all over team doctors to come back out [into the game].”
link to boston.cbslocal.com
“He was just determined; it was iffy if our medical staff would allow him to play but he was so determined.”
link to nba.com
“He was pretty despondent not to be able to play. I mean, that guy is a tough guy, and he plays through a lot. For him to have to sit is really hard.””
link to espn.com
“I think, for IT not to play, he’d have to have one of his legs cut off or something,” Green said. “Or it’s got to be something real serious. I do expect IT to play.”
This is a guy who fought tirelessly to play through the injury at his own choice, because he had a “chip on his shoulder” and wanted to be on the court. It wasn’t the Celtics’ decision in the least.