Speaking on Wednesday to reporters, including Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said that he was in full support of star forward Kawhi Leonard stepping away from the team to be with family who had been affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Lue added that “a few people on the staff” were also impacted by the fires and weren’t with the team in Denver on Wednesday.
“You definitely have to take care of home,” Lue said. “And so (Leonard) totally had my support, 100%. Going back, checking on his family and kids and making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
Leonard is still rounding into form after missing most of the first half of the season while recovering from an offseason procedure on his knee. Speaking to Law Murray of The Athletic, the two-time Finals MVP said his first two games back have felt like his “preseason.”
“I’m happy the knee is responding well. That’s what I’m more focused on than anything,” Leonard said. “But, you know, it’s hard to not want to be as aggressive as I want to be on the floor. It’s going to be a time to come. Once my lungs and my legs get there, start building up, I’ll start really assessing my play and seeing what I need to do better.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, who has been out since December 27 due to a shoulder injury, has been upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s matchup with Houston, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Memphis has lost three of the five games Morant has missed within the last couple weeks, so his return – whether it comes on Thursday or in another game or two – will be a welcome one.
- After being assigned to the G League this week for the first time, Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard responded exactly like you’d want a No. 3 overall pick to respond, racking up 49 points, eight 3-pointers, and eight assists in his first game with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Tuesday. Sheppard has had a hard time establishing himself as a regular rotation player this season for a deep Houston squad, but Tuesday’s performance in his NBAGL debut was a reminder of his upside as a scorer and shooter.
- In his latest mailbag, Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link) discusses various Trail Blazers topics, with a focus on trade scenarios. Highkin believes it would be in the Blazers’ best interests to move Jerami Grant before the February 6 deadline, though he acknowledges that trades involving players on big contracts have become more challenging in the current CBA landscape. Highkin still considers Grant the most likely of Portland’s top trade candidates to be moved, ahead of (in order) Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams, and Deandre Ayton.
Kawhi is like that dad who is always working late or running errands or doing chores around the house, just so he doesn’t have to be with his family. He’ll do anything to get paid to NOT play basketball.
And you’re the person everyone can’t stand in your family. You’re like that Dad on Elf during the first part of the movie. Before the touching transformation.
What you posted is actually moronic.
Do his teammates respect him? That is what matters.
Only Hubie Brown knows, Hubie Brown knows.
Imagine if Lou was like “no basketball comes first over everything” lol I understand reporters have to ask questions but what are we doing? “Man spends time with family in time of crisis…more at 11”
POR could get a lot of picks for their veterans:
Trade 1:
Ayton and Thybulle to BRK for Simmons (add Maxwell Lewis, if needed to match). I don’t know how trade exceptions work in the new CBA.
Then, Ayton to GSW for Moody, Payton II, Slo Mo, Looney, Gui Santos and a lightly protected (top-8) first.
Alternative: Wiggins, Payton II, Slo/Mo and an unprotected first.
Trade 2:
Grant and Duop Reath to SAC for DeRozan, Huerter and two protected (top-20) firsts. Or a top 14 first and a top 25 protected first, that could convey in two second rounders in a year.
Simons, Rob Will and Reath to BRK for Simmons. Then, Rob Will to Lakers for Vincent and two seconds (or a top-25 protected first that becomes two seconds if it doesn’t convey).
Rob Will to CHA for Grant Williams.
Then, Grant Williams to GSW for Payton, Lindy Waters, Santos and a second round pick.
Then, Rob Will, Josh Green, Seth Curry, Bertans, Micic to CHI for LaVine.
CHI can flip Rob Will, Josh Green and Micic to contenders, they might get 2 protected first and an early second or two for those players.
Just be patient Reed, your time will come.