Los Angeles Clippers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Western Notes: George, Holmes, Fernando, Dinwiddie, Kleber, Popovich

November 21st, 2022 at 10:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Clippers star forward Paul George missed Monday’s game against Utah due to a right hamstring tendon strain, according to Law Murray of The Athletic.

It’s a different injury than the one the team cited when George sat out the second half of Saturday’s game against San Antonio. The reason given that night was right knee soreness.

George will be reevaluated in the next couple of days.

We have more from the Western Conference:

Richaun Holmes has fallen out of the Kings’ rotation and it may be difficult to move his contract, James Ham of The Kings Beat notes. Holmes is owed $11.2MM this season, $12MM next season and has a player option for $12.9MM in 2024/25.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas is optimistic Bruno Fernando can return to action later this week, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Fernando has only appeared in two games this season due to left knee soreness.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd expressed hope that Spencer Dinwiddie and Maxi Kleber will be available during the team’s upcoming road trip, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes. Dinwiddie dislocated his left shoulder against Denver on Sunday, while Kleber hasn’t played since Tuesday due to a lower back contusion.
Gregg Popovich didn’t coach the Spurs on Sunday after meeting with the press prior to the game. Brett Brown filled in after Popovich felt ill, but doctors who examined him in the locker room pronounced him OK, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News tweets.

Jackson And Wall Proving A Solid PG Combo; Inside Ballmer's Plan For New Arena

November 21st, 2022 at 1:56pm CST by Rory Maher

Reggie Jackson and John Wall are proving to be a solid point guard combination for the Clippers, notes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. The duo shared the court to close out Saturday’s victory over the Spurs, and Wall, the backup, says they’re both willing to do whatever it takes to win. “It’s a dynamic with both of us not really caring who’s starting, who’s getting the most benefit,” Wall said. “We’re just trying to feed off each other, whatever the best role for this team is. Like last game, I didn’t play well, and Reggie was playing well. He closed the game out. Know what I mean? Sometimes it’s going to be different, sometimes it can be both of us. But you’re trying to figure out ways to do whatever we can to help this team win.”
Steve Farmer of The Los Angeles Times takes an in-depth look at Clippers owner Steve Ballmer‘s quest for the perfect NBA arena. One interesting note from Farmer’s article: Ballmer decided the seats at the top of the arena should have the same amount of leg room as those closer to the court because he wants all fans to be comfortable and in their seats as much as possible. The Intuit Dome is scheduled to open in summer 2024.

George Leaves Early, Says Knee Is OK

November 20th, 2022 at 7:06pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Clippers forward Paul George exited the team’s game against San Antonio early due to knee soreness but it shouldn’t cause him to miss any games, Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times reports. George told owner Steve Ballmer he was “OK” on his way to the locker room after Saturday’s win. George is listed as questionable to play Monday against Utah.

Clippers Notes: George, Leonard, Popovich, Covington

November 20th, 2022 at 9:47am CST by Arthur Hill

The Clippers aren’t worried about Paul George, who sat out the second half of Saturday’s game because of soreness in his right knee, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. George didn’t speak to the media after the game, but coach Tyronn Lue said the condition isn’t believed to be serious. George spent the second half on the bench and felt good enough to help throw T-shirts to fans during a break in the action.

“He’s doing OK,” Lue said. “I haven’t seen what they (the medical staff) said happened to him, but I just know he had like a little tweak. But he says he is OK.”

Injuries have played a role in the team’s slow start, but George has been reliable so far, missing just one game because of a non-COVID illness. He was limited to 31 games last season due to a torn UCL in his right elbow.

There’s more on the Clippers:

Kawhi Leonard embraced Spurs coach Gregg Popovich after Saturday’s game, indicating that any hard feelings are gone from Leonard’s bitter exit from San Antonio, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. Leonard has never spoken much about what happened with the Spurs, but he told reporters Saturday that his time with Popovich helped him to improve. “He meant a lot, he’s the reason why I’m the player I am today,” Leonard said. “Built that foundation on showing me winning basketball and yeah, he’s a great coach. Still one of the best coaches I had. We been in too many battles to have a scar on our relationship.”
The Clippers were happy to welcome Leonard back to the lineup this week, but that meant many adjustments had to be made, Greif adds in a separate story. With Leonard and George able to carry the offense, other players are adapting to complementary roles. Nicolas Batum said the “rhythm is different, the passing is different, the players are different because two years ago we literally had two guys who could create open shots, when you have PG and Kawhi.”
Lue said he told Robert Covington “thank you for sacrificing” as the veteran forward has played single-digit minutes in four of his last five appearances, Greif tweets. Lue added that Covington will eventually see more playing time, but the team is trying to establish a rhythm with its current rotation.

Kawhi Leonard: ACL Recovery Is “Two-Year Process”

November 18th, 2022 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Kawhi Leonard returned from a 12-game absence on Thursday and played 25 minutes in the Clippers‘ 96-91 win over Detroit. Although Leonard only scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting, he impacted the game in ways beyond his scoring, posting a team-high plus-26 rating.

After the victory, Leonard – who missed all of the 2021/22 season after tearing his ACL in June 2021 – spoke to reporters about coming back from that injury and about a recovery process that isn’t always linear.

“Like I said before, at the start of the season, it’s going to be a long journey,” Leonard said, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “ACL recovery isn’t just one year. Everybody thinks that, but it’s a two-year process, so I know that and I’m going to keep going and going through the process.”

As Leonard suggests, it’s not uncommon for NBA players to come back from ACL tears within 12 months, but it’s rare for a player to look like his old self right away upon returning. It often takes another year for a player to feel like he’s back to 100%.

Leonard appeared in two of the Clippers’ first three games of the season before being ruled out for the next 12 contests due to knee stiffness. As Youngmisuk relays, the two-time NBA Finals MVP didn’t offer any further specifics about his absence after Thursday’s game.

“Just rehabbing, getting ready,” Leonard said of his last few weeks. “I’m not going to explain it because I’m not a doctor, and nobody in here is one. So just getting back, ready to get on the floor.”

Leonard came off the bench in his first two games, but was reinserted into the Clippers’ starting five in his third game of the season on Thursday. According to Youngmisuk, head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters that he hadn’t been a fan of the substitution pattern he had to use for Leonard when he was bringing him off the bench, while Kawhi suggested the plan to move him into the starting lineup had been in the works for a while.

“After I played those first two games, it was dead already,” Leonard said of being a reserve. “T-Lue wanted me to start the games and get us going in a flow. So, before I sat out (for 12 games), I knew I was gonna be starting.”

The Clippers will be back in action on Saturday vs. San Antonio, Leonard’s former team. While there’s no indication at this point that his knee didn’t respond well to his return on Thursday or that he won’t be available on Saturday, it’s probably premature to assume he’s simply back for good now — there will likely be more absences coming, even if those absences are just for one game at a time rather than for extended stretches.

“Like I said, it’s a two-year process,” Leonard said when asked about whether he’s past the “stiffness” that sidelined him for 12 games. “Everybody thinks it’s a one-year process, but we don’t know. We’ll see what happens once we keep moving forward.”

Kawhi Leonard On Verge Of Return For Clippers

November 17th, 2022 at 12:49pm CST by Rory Maher

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is on the verge of returning to action, having been upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s game against the Pistons, per Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).

Leonard, who had previously been listed as out, appeared in two of the Clippers’ first three games, averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals as a reserve, but has been sidelined with right knee stiffness since October 23. He has missed 12 straight games with the injury.

The veteran forward was on the shelf for all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, which he sustained during the 2021 playoffs against Utah. A two-time Finals MVP, Leonard’s absence was obviously difficult for the Clippers to navigate, as they were eliminated in the play-in tournament in ’21/22.

In other Clippers health news, sharpshooter Luke Kennard exited Tuesday’s loss to the Mavericks early with a right calf strain and has been ruled out for the next couple of games, Greif tweets. After the Pistons, the Clippers have home games against the Spurs on Saturday and the Jazz on Monday. Kennard will be reevaluated within a week.

The Clippers currently sit with an 8-7 record, the No. 9 seed in the West.

And-Ones: Wembanyama, 2023 Draft, Best Trade Assets, More

November 17th, 2022 at 9:18am CST by Luke Adams

Victor Wembanyama led France to a pair of blowout victories in this month’s World Cup qualifiers, scoring 39 total points in 48 minutes as the French team beat Lithuania by 25 points and Bosnia and Herzegovina by 36. The performances on the international stage were the latest reminder why Wembanyama is ranked atop every draft expert’s big board for 2023.

That list of draft experts includes Jonathan Givony of ESPN, who unveiled his full top-100 list for the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday, with the usual suspects (Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson) leading the way.

Givony’s initial list features Overtime Elite’s Amen Thompson at No. 3, Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. at No. 4, and Villanova’s Cam Whitmore at No. 5. Keyonte George, Ausar Thompson, Dillon Mitchell, Kel’el Ware, and Brandon Miller round out his top 10.

In an Insider-only story for ESPN.com, Givony also shared his impressions on this year’s Champions Classic, evaluating Duke’s Kyle Filipowski as a lottery prospect and taking a closer look at Gradey Dick‘s strong start to the season for Kansas.

Which NBA teams have the best collection of trade assets? Yossi Gozlan and the staff at HoopsHype rank the Thunder, Pelicans, and the Grizzlies as the top three due to their impressive mix of young talent and future draft picks. On the other end of the spectrum, the Wizards are considered the team with the least valuable trade assets.
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today takes a look at nine players who are making an impact this season after changing teams in the summer, starting with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, while Frank Urbina of HoopsHype singles out nine players who appear to be taking a major leap forward, including Lauri Markkanen and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
In his latest look around the NBA, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer considers whether the Warriors and Bulls will have to turn to the trade market this season, explores Joel Embiid‘s ongoing evolution, and highlights some of the league’s most impressive three-point shooters.
John Hollinger of The Athletic breaks out the “panic meter” to determine how concerned we should be about some would-be contenders who are off to slow starts. Hollinger isn’t too worried about the Sixers and Clippers, but has serious reservations about the Timberwolves, Nets, and Lakers, with the Heat and Warriors falling in the middle.

Clippers Reportedly Have Interest In Myles Turner

November 15th, 2022 at 12:54pm CST by Arthur Hill

After months of rumors about the Lakers‘ pursuit of Myles Turner, it may be the Clippers who make a strong play for the Pacers center, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Multiple sources tell Pincus that the Clippers have discussed targeting Turner. The team is in need of another center after losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Knicks in free agency, and Turner appears to be the best option on the market, provided that Indiana is willing to move him.

Nicolas Batum is currently serving as the primary backup to starting center Ivica Zubac, Pincus notes, with Marcus Morris and Robert Covington also spending time in that role. Turner would provide a legitimate option at the five and would ease the burden on Zubac.

Turner is in the final year of his contract, but Pincus hears that wouldn’t be a factor for the Clippers, as owner Steve Ballmer is willing to accept a high luxury tax in order to build a contender. Pincus’ sources say that L.A. prefers to move some of its wing depth in the deal, rather than a lead guard such as Reggie Jackson or John Wall.

Turner has an $18MM salary this season, so the Clippers would have to send out at least $14.3MM in any trade. Assuming the team keeps Zubac, Pincus states that Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, Jackson, Morris or Covington would have to be included to get a deal done soon. L.A.’s options will expand on December 15 when Wall becomes trade-eligible and again on January 15 when Amir Coffey and Batum can both be dealt.

The Clippers are limited to offering either their first-round pick in 2028 or 2029 because the team’s other first-rounders are covered by obligations to the Thunder from the Paul George trade. Pincus points out that L.A. has plenty of second-rounders to offer, apart from 2027, along with young prospects such as Brandon Boston, Jason Preston and Moussa Diabate.

Turner is off to a strong start, averaging career highs of 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds in seven games. He’s also blocking 3.1 shots per game after leading the league twice in that category and would be a valuable rim protector for the Clippers.

Pincus cautions that the Pacers may not be in a hurry to make a move. The trade deadline isn’t until February 10, so there’s plenty of time for Indiana’s front office to gauge its offers. One source tells Pincus that the Pacers have become skeptical that a deal with the Lakers will work out.

Largest Trade Exceptions Available This Season

November 13th, 2022 at 9:04am CST by Luke Adams

As the NBA’s 2022/23 trade deadline approaches, it’s worth keeping in mind which teams hold traded player exceptions that could come in handy to grease the wheels on an in-season deal.

As we explain in our glossary, a traded player exception allows a team to take on salary in a trade without sending out any salary in return. The amount of the exception plus $100K is the amount of salary the team is permitted to take back without salary-matching – either in a single deal or in multiple trades – for one year.

For instance, a team with a $10MM trade exception could acquire a player earning $4MM and a player earning $6.1MM without having to worry about sending out any outgoing salary.

In recent years, sizable traded player exceptions have been major wild cards that helped accommodate both pre-deadline and offseason deals. For example, after creating a $28.6MM trade exception in a sign-and-trade sending Gordon Hayward to Charlotte in 2020, the Celtics used that TPE to acquire Evan Fournier at the following deadline and then to acquire Josh Richardson during the 2021 offseason.

However, as our tracker shows, there are currently no trade exceptions worth anywhere near $28MM. In fact, the largest current TPE barely eclipses the $10MM mark.

Here are the all of the current trade exceptions worth more than $4MM, along with their expiry dates in parentheses:

Oklahoma City Thunder: $10,183,800 (10/2/23)
Utah Jazz: $9,774,884 (2/9/23)
Los Angeles Clippers: $9,720,900 (2/10/23)
Utah Jazz: $9,614,379 (7/6/23)
Denver Nuggets: $9,125,000 (7/6/23)
Boston Celtics: $6,907,815 (1/19/23)
Utah Jazz: $6,745,122 (9/22/23)
Portland Trail Blazers: $6,519,792 (2/6/23)
Boston Celtics: $5,890,000 (2/10/23)
Toronto Raptors: $5,250,000 (2/10/23)
Washington Wizards: $5,220,900 (2/10/23)
Atlanta Hawks: $4,564,980 (9/27/23)
Minnesota Timberwolves: $4,374,000 (7/6/23)
Oklahoma City Thunder: $4,220,057 (10/2/23)
Sacramento Kings: $4,023,600 (2/8/23)

These trade exceptions aren’t useless. For instance, if Detroit made point guard Cory Joseph available, any of the top 11 TPEs on this list could be used to absorb Joseph’s $5,155,500 salary. The non-Utah TPEs in the top eight could be used to acquire Rudy Gay and his $6,184,500 cap hit from the Jazz. All 15 of them are big enough to take on the $3.5MM salary of Thunder big man Mike Muscala.

But these exceptions will ultimately be of no consequence when considering trade candidates who earn salaries well into the eight figures, since TPEs can’t be combined with other players or exceptions. There’s no scenario in which any of these trade exceptions could be used to take on the $18MM salary of Pacers center Myles Turner, for example.

That’s not the only factor working against the odds of most of these exceptions being used. All of the top 10 largest TPEs are controlled by teams that are rebuilding (the Thunder and Jazz), teams in the tax (the Clippers, Nuggets, and Celtics), or teams that are just below the tax line and likely want to stay that way (the Trail Blazers and Raptors). In other words, they don’t fit the profile of clubs that are looking to take on additional salary without sending any out.

That doesn’t mean that none of these trade exceptions will be used — after all, it sometimes makes sense to take advantage of them even in a deal that a team could complete using salary matching (for instance, a team with a $10MM trade exception that swaps one $8MM player for another could use the exception to take on the incoming player and create a new $8MM exception using the outgoing player). However, it does mean that it’s unlikely any TPEs will be game-changers on this season’s trade market.

Pacific Notes: Leonard, LeBron, Monk, Wiseman

November 12th, 2022 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Clippers are just a game above .500, but they’re willing to give Kawhi Leonard all the time he needs to start playing again, writes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Leonard participated in a five-on-five workout Friday for the first time since experiencing right knee soreness on October 23. Although that’s an encouraging sign, his teammates don’t want to rush him back into the lineup.

“I’m excited to get him back whenever he’s ready,” Paul George said. “Nobody here wants to put added pressure on his return. His return is his return. Like I’ve been saying, we got a job to do and that’s to continue to play ball, win games, compete. When he’s ready, he’s ready, but that’s his timetable, not ours.”

Leonard, who missed all of 2021/22 while recovering from a torn ACL, has only been able to play in two games this season. Kevin Durant, whose Nets won in L.A. this afternoon, said Leonard understands what he needs to do to get healthy.

“He knows how to deal with his body,” Durant said. “He knows his body better than anybody. The league is better though, when Kawhi Leonard is playing.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

After missing Friday’s game with a left adductor strain, Lakers star LeBron James has been upgraded slightly for Sunday but still remains doubtful, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. With James sidelined, coach Darvin Ham said “self-inflicted mistakes” cost L.A. in a loss to the Kings, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. The Lakers committed numerous turnovers and defensive mistakes in the closing minutes of both halves. “We’ve just got to get some wins, especially in the West,” Anthony Davis said. “Every team is good. Got a lot of basketball left but we dug ourselves a hole. So we’ve got to put some wins together, got to start winning — ASAP. Try to stay positive, obviously. The energy around our locker room feels like 2-10, as it should. But we’ve got to start putting wins together immediately.”
Malik Monk, who left the Lakers for the Kings in free agency, has been a good fit in Sacramento, according to Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group. L.A. wasn’t able to offer Monk more than the taxpayer mid-level exception, so he signed with the Kings for $9.5MM. “People probably may not look at him like this because he’s so young, and he’s bounced around as a young guy, but he knows how to lead,” coach Mike Brown said. “He uplifts the group. He’s fun-loving. He’s always messing with somebody, and guys really, really enjoy that, and you need that when you’re together as much as we are.”
The Warriors should consider trading third-year center James Wiseman, who doesn’t fit the team’s style of play and isn’t ready to be part of a championship contender, argues Nekias Duncan of Basketball News.