Clippers make key decision regarding Kawhi Leonard's status
Kawhi Leonard is dealing with knee inflammation. He missed the Los Angeles Clippers' win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday and their opening win on April 21.
That means both of the Clippers' losses in their opening playoff series have come with Leonard on the floor. He hasn't been anywhere near his best.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, who was speaking on FanDuel TV's "Run it Back," the Clippers are shutting Leonard down until his knee shows positive signs of improvement.
"The expectation is Kawhi Leonard is going to miss more time here with the knee inflammation," Charania said. "The Clippers actually made the decision as an organization after seeing Kawhi Leonard play in game two and three, to shut him down for game four, until they feel like he has enough mobility in that knee. He's been dealing with inflammation. That's the same knee that he had a torn ACL in 2021. Last year in 2023, he had a torn meniscus on that knee."
The Clippers need Leonard firing on all cylinders. Without him in the rotation, their chances of winning a championship take a significant hit.
However, the version of him they got in Games 2 and 3 was clearly detrimental to the team's overall approach. It's no coincidence that they lost the games he played in and won the ones where he sat out.
Still, Leonard is the Clippers' star player. If his knee responds to treatment and he comes back near 100%, he will likely remind the world why he's such an unstoppable force on both ends of the court. His ability to drive past his man to anywhere on the floor is what has made him such a fearsome opponent throughout his career.
The Clippers recently signed Leonard to a three-year contract extension worth $149M. Therefore, it makes sense to take care of his knee issues rather than risk having him struggle in the future. The playoffs are still in the opening stages.
Ty Lue and his coaching staff will likely be keen to ensure Leonard is available in the latter rounds or in a win-or-go-home game against the Mavericks. For now, though, it makes sense to let him rest and try to get ahead of the nagging injury. That way, he can make an impact when called upon.
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