After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Kawhi Leonard pronounced himself ready for training camp, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN writes.
“For me individually, I’ll be participating in training camp,” the Clippers‘ star forward said. “Then from there, just seeing how my progression is, how I feel, what I’m not feeling, is it moving correctly, and just keep going from there, just gradually building up. But right now, I feel good, and the plan is to start camp and play.”
[RELATED: Kawhi Leonard Cleared, But Clippers Will Remain Cautious]
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Russell Westbrook was unusually blunt when asked on Monday if he feels the Lakers truly want him on the roster, according to Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. “Whether they want me here or not doesn’t really matter, honestly,” Westbrook said. “My job is to be professional, show up to work, like I’ve always done. Thus far, I did my job the best way I know how to and that’s it. I mean, you all have jobs – sometimes people at our jobs don’t like us or don’t want us there.”
- Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green could be on the free agent market next summer, but Stephen Curry hopes that the current group of Warriors can remain in place, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. “You want that to be the spirit of how decisions are made, and we want the best chance to win every single year. And we’re proving with this squad, that’s what the results have been,” he said. “So, we want to keep that together for as long as we can. That’s the goal.”
- Former head coach Alvin Gentry has been named the Kings’ VP of basketball engagement, according to a team press release. Mark Toyoda has been elevated to senior director of basketball administration. Melanie Stocking has been promoted to senior director of team operations. Saagar Sarin has been promoted to director of pro personnel and Aram Palamoudian has been promoted to basketball operations coordinator.
the result of My evaluation formula
Draymond
4-year $90 million (clearly declining)
Wiggins
3-year $90 million (would play badly for other teams)
Poole
4 year #100 million (market likes young players)
Draymond Green
3 years $100 million
Andrew Wiggins
4 years $120 million
Jordan Poole
5 years $125 million
They all going to get a bag if they win again.
Why would you want to give Poole $100 million? He has had two terrible to mediocre seasons. And one good one. He is, as Steve Kerr puts it, inconsistent on defense. Right now, you are looking at a potentially bad contract.
Its not polite to ask Westbrook this question.
Did Lakers truly want him on the roster?
The fact is that Westbrook loves the Lakers by opting in the contract.
He only opted in because it’s his last big pay day. Next season no team will offer him a max contract because of his declining athleticism and low basketball IQ
I really dont think any team will give Westbrook more than veteran minimum next season.
If Westbrook loved the lakers, he wouldnt have opted in to his contract.
He wouldve signed a five year extension for in total 47 million + 4 times minimum salary. That way he didnt have to leave money on the table and gave the lakers both some cap room and a more tradeable contract.
Seems to me that since he couldn’t get the same ridiculous annual salary from any other team, he jumped at opting in again with the Lakers.
I’m sure Westbrook’s passion for “being a Laker” has worn off after that year they/he had, despite having grown up there.
All of the Kings positions are super intriguing
Laker’s biggest issues last year:
1. 3rd of their 3PAs were shot by dudes shooting 31% or lower.
2. Health of AD and LBJ
3. Only 2 starters played above average defense (AD and LBJ).
4. 7 of their top 10 FT shooters shot below 80%
Bryant, Schroder, TCA, Walker, and Pat Bev only really solves some of the defense – TCA and Pat Bev that is. None of them are above average 3pt shooters, and all of them are likely below 80% FT shooters this year.
They need to turn Westbrook into 2 shooters that provide 3pt shooting, defense, and FT shooting. Going to have to be a multi-team trade to get the expiring contracts they want.
Well said
I don’t think you’re going to get expiring contracts for westbrook. WESTBROOK is the expiring contract. You would get two guys the other team has soured on because expectations were not met. This would be two guys with money still on the books for next year. They would only take Westbrook because HE is expiring contract.
I think this may happen at the trade deadline unless the Lakers ride it out with Westbrook because they want cap room for next summer and will throw away this year.
Quite the conundrum really. Can’t imagine LeBron burning a year just for cap space next summer, but I guess that’s the plan?
Gentry…
All the (future) Interim Head Coach jobs must’ve already been filled
Russell Westbrook just need to focus on basketball and building up team chemistry.
Kawhi Leonard is going to have a great season. If he healthy he’s the best two way wing.
I think Westbrook is doing exactly that so far. He’s putting his ego on the back burner and being a good teammate.
What has Kawhi Leonard been doing all summer? He’s going to come in and “just see how my progression is, how I feel?” Shouldn’t he be like Klay Thompson and work out all summer to strengthen after a major injury(s)? I’ll tell you what, Klay Thompson is ready to roll. Kawhi Leonard, not so much.
If anything, quotes like these from Westbrook would concern me more than ever.
Always been professional? Please. The least he could’ve done at the end of last season/during the summer was man up and admit the truth in some form. Instead, he tries to make it sound like it’s been the team that’s had the problem, and there’s nothing he could’ve done about it. The man will never change.
That said, reporters asking him that type of question is silly. Pop would’ve had a field day with that garbage.
Lakers really need to do whatever it takes to get rid of Westbrook. Clearly there’s no benefit to keeping him.
I mean, they don’t want to take on bad contracts or give up first-round picks to get rid of him, so I don’t quite agree.
They’re gonna ride out Westbrook this year unless they can find what I’ve been talking about for two months at the trade deadline. Receive in return two guys with time and money still on their deal that haven’t worked out and that team will gladly take Westbrook’s expiring to get out from under a couple of disappointing players.
But just because these players have not produced good results doesn’t mean they won’t be fantastic fits with the lakers.
If Westbrook comes off the bench it won’t be so bad. He’ll provide some kind of a spark.., either for the Lakers or the other team LOL.
Coming off the bench is the first step.., then when he starts playing horribly you just reduces minutes which is easier than if he was a starter.
Westbrook is going to win the comeback player of the year award. You heard it here first.