Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Paul George (hamstring) appear to be close to returning from their respective injuries. Head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters on Friday that both Leonard and George are practicing today and are considered questionable to play on Saturday (Twitter link via Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times). The team will wait to see how the duo feels after practicing on Friday.
Norman Powell (groin) isn’t practicing today, while Luke Kennard (calf) has already been ruled out for Saturday, so even if Leonard and George are available, the Clippers will remain a little shorthanded for the time being. Still, Kennard is practicing on Friday and Lue sounds like he expects the sharpshooter to return soon.
“I’m excited to get guys back, PG and Kawhi, get Luke back,” Lue said, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “But now we gotta wait on Norm so hopefully he feels better soon. But I am very excited just to kind of see what we have.”
Here’s more on the NBA’s two Los Angeles-based teams:
- Leonard and George have had their availability impacted by health issues since joining the Clippers in 2019, but the team is “pot-committed” to the star duo, Brian Windhorst writes for ESPN.com. With the franchise deep in tax territory and short on future draft assets, all signs point to the Clippers “keeping their chips firmly in the middle and adding to (the) pot if needed,” according to Windhorst.
- After being waived this week by the Lakers, second-year wing Matt Ryan tweeted his appreciation to the organization for giving him a shot on a non-guaranteed deal this season. “Nothing but gratitude for the city of LA and the @Lakers!” he wrote. “Any opportunity to play in the NBA, let alone for this franchise, is special. Thank you. Now I’m excited for whatever is next!”
- Within a round-up of where things stand for the Lakers at the 20-game mark, Jovan Buha of The Athletic says that offseason additions Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant were worth the wait. Both players missed the start of the season due to thumb injuries, but have entered the rotation since returning, with Schröder averaging 8.4 PPG and 3.6 RPG in seven games (25.3 MPG) and Bryant contributing 9.3 PPG and 5.0 RPG in six appearances (14.7 MPG). Bryant’s +9.5 net rating is the best mark on the Lakers’ 15-man roster.
The Lakers better pray for a lot more than Schroeder, and Bryant playing well. They got some nice wins last week, don’t let of the gas.
Kinda did let off the gas v Indy
Schroeder has made an impact over nunn/bev even if it’s not entirely efficient it’s at least not a black hole
Reaves has played a lot better the last 10 than the first as well so that helps
Gotta say Hams gotta a better looking Def than last years lakers but w/out shooting the margins will always be deathly slim , Loses like Indy can’t happen
If the clippers don’t have a really deep playoff run this year surely they blow it up.
On paper it’s probably a top 5 team and last year it was probably too 10.
However it’s derailed constantly by injuries. Kawhi is always out, PG has injury issues however when he does play he’s been terrific. Then the remaining players you have are all good playoff side role players on decent contracts. However come playoffs these guys that got them there don’t know how to play with the returning stars who are always injured or rested and they get bounced.
It kinda reminds me a little of the Utah Jazz. A good side and come playoffs decent but haven’t made it deep enough just to keep running it back over and over again. Trade out your two stars and your still got a side that’s going to win some games. You can trade off the role playing vets for more bits as a part of a rebuild or whatever but running it back constantly is just wasting time.
Imagine the trade packages…
Knicks
RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and 3 firsts for Kawhi Leonard and Luke Kennard.
-Clippers with Wall Barrett PG Randle Zubac would be cool. Knicks with Brunson Kennard Leonard Toppin Robinson would be interesting.
Sixers
Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey and 2 first for Kawhi Leonard.
– Sixers have an insane big 3 of Harden Leonard and Embiid. Clippers wouldn’t look terrible either Maxey would be a solid rebuilding piece, Harris and PG would be a solid duo and you get picks back.
Just a couple examples hahaha
Just to expand for fun, I think with the knicks deal they could run it back and PG and everyone stays healthy. Reggie Powell RoCo Morris all on the bench they would be stacked. RJ would just continue to get better as he gets older especially learning from PG and John Wall.
The knicks would be interesting. Kawhi would be the new focal point with Brunson playing second fiddle to him but he did exactly that in Dallas to Luka and was excellent. Kennard would space the floor and get more of an opportunity on offence, Toppin would get a great opportunity and Robinson rounds out the 5. DRose and Fouriner off the bench theyd definitely be a playoffs side. Sitting games out all the time in NY with those fans would really hurt Kawhis legacy if they don’t have good playoff runs.
With the Sixers, again they could try run it back with Maxey in the guards with either Wall Reggie or even Kennard. Harris likely starts at the 4 and they’d be a playoffs side but probably not a threat to go that deep. They could then trade PG for another rebuilding package of young player and picks. Imagine PG for Porter Jr, Bones Hylamd and picks.
Bones and Maxey with MPJ that’s a solid core and you’d still get back a decent return for some of the vets too. Add someone like James Wiseman next Fa round.
Bones Maxey MPJ Morris Wiseman Kennard off the bench bunch of future picks that’s a decent future