Clippers to restrict Kawhi Leonard’s coaching camp work due to knee
With Clippers coaching camp approaching, questions proceed to swirl across the well being of star Kawhi Leonard following the irritation in his proper knee that sidelined him late final season and within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Leonard is coping with swelling however is progressing towards full well being, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank mentioned Tuesday.
At the beginning of final season, Leonard was the healthiest he had been in years and he appeared in 68 video games. Nevertheless, it was the third straight season he failed to complete, not counting the 2021-22 season, which he missed solely.
Leonard has struggled with an in depth harm historical past throughout his Clippers tenure, together with a partial tear of an anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for 2021-22, a meniscus tear in the course of the 2023 playoffs and this present case of knee irritation.
“It is really unlucky that he is needed to take care of this, however we’re trending in the suitable path,” Frank mentioned. “The objective is to get him to 100% so he can have a fantastic season, not simply this yr, however for a few years.”
The group has developed an in depth plan to information Leonard’s restoration that can give attention to strengthening and steadily rising the load on Leonard’s knee. Whereas Frank mentioned the swelling has considerably decreased, the Clippers plan to take a cautious strategy and restrict Leonard’s exercise throughout coaching camp.
Leonard tried to return for the Olympic Video games this summer time however was despatched residence from Staff USA camp.
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“It is nearly gone,” Frank mentioned of the swelling. “He desires to take part in every part throughout coaching camp, however we’ll maintain him again from drill work and actually give attention to strengthening.”
The query is whether or not Leonard can be prepared for the season opener towards the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23 at Intuit Dome. Coaching camp opens Monday and the preseason opener is Oct. 5 towards the Golden State Warriors in Hawaii.
Frank remained noncommittal about whether or not Leonard can be prepared. He famous that the offseason has been devoted to getting the six-time All-Star nearer to full wholesome and never speeding the method.
“The timing will rely upon how his knee responds to every part,” Frank mentioned. “Nobody has a crystal ball. … I do know he is tremendous decided to have a fantastic yr, however on the subject of your physique and well being, I don’t suppose you set time frames on it.”
Coach Tyronn Lue stays assured that Leonard ultimately will return to full well being however helps the cautious strategy.
“We’ve acquired to go step-by-step and ensure he’s checking all of the containers,” Lue mentioned. “The medical employees will inform us when he’s able to do every part and what he’s able to. So our focus is on the blokes working towards, ensuring we’re doing it laborious and doing it the suitable approach. No shortcuts.”
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Within the occasion of Leonard’s absence, James Harden is predicted to tackle the function of major offensive weapon, a situation Lue deliberate for even when Leonard is out there.
“Extra decide and rolls and scoring the basketball,” Lue mentioned. “Taking extra pictures. He is a dynamic playmaker additionally.”
With Paul George leaving for Philadelphia in free company, the Clippers’ assault now revolves round a brand new one-two punch of Leonard and Harden.
“Once you lose a participant like PG, it is all the time robust to attempt to substitute that sort of participant,” Lue mentioned. “James and Kawhi will assist us offensively. … Everyone else has acquired to suit round it to guarantee that we now have the suitable spacing, the suitable guys with the ball in our palms and making the suitable play.”
The Clippers’ offensive pecking order stays clear, which, in keeping with Frank, has made issues simpler for the group. Harden, coming into his first full season with the Clippers, has totally built-in himself after final yr’s early season commerce, which initially left him to play catch-up in studying his function within the offense and creating chemistry.
“It’s all the time laborious if you get traded, and if you don’t undergo a coaching camp, you possibly can’t develop these bonds with the group,” Frank mentioned. “He’s completely immersed himself with the group.”
There are rumblings and questions on whether or not this can be a championship-caliber roster, and Frank did not draw back from acknowledging the skin noise. If they’ve a wholesome Harden and Leonard, he’s assured that the strikes they made so as to add depth and construct a roster to enhance them can allow them to compete within the Western Convention.
“I’ve the web,” Frank mentioned. “I am not going to place a ceiling and say what we are able to and can’t be. … I am not going to learn an excessive amount of into it, however I do just like the chemistry and camaraderie of what I see. The largest factor we now have is alternative.”
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
