NBA Rumors: LA Clippers to remain committed to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George
The LA Clippers will reportedly remain committed to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, despite all the injuries they've had in the past few years.
The Clippers acquired the duo in 2019, but their partnership hasn't worked out as expected. There is no doubt that both Leonard and George are fantastic players. However, they've been sidelined with injuries multiple times and have been unable to achieve any significant postseason results.
According to Mark Medina, owner Steve Ballmer has no intention of changing the core of his team next season.
"Despite these latest developments, the Clippers remain committed toward retaining Leonard and George, according to a person familiar with their thinking that was not authorized to discuss publicly," Medina reported.
The LA Clippers were eliminated in the first round with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard sidelined
Kawhi Leonard appeared in only 52 games in the regular season and the first two of their five first-round playoff clashes with the Phoenix Suns. During his four-year tenure in the City of Angels, the 6-foot-7 forward has played only 161 games, which averages out to 40 per season.
Paul George has appeared in 189 games, or 47 games per season, which isn't much better. He didn't log a single minute in the 2023 playoffs due to a leg injury.
The LA Clippers were careful with both of them, giving them time to rest and avoiding playing them in back-to-back games. However, the load management strategy hasn't paid off.
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Both George and Leonard played well when fit. However, their constant injury problems have been a big problem for the Clippers, whose biggest success was reaching the Western Conference finals in 2021.
The two superstars have identical contracts that run through the summer of 2025. However, both players have player options for the 2024-25 season, which they may end up declining. By declining this option, they could become free agents after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
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Leonard will be 32 before the start of next season, while George will turn 33 in early May. The clock is ticking, which is why the LA Clippers need to figure out what to do regarding their long-term future.