Taken separately, the injuries can read as flukes, but the bumps and strains have added up. Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season because of a torn knee ligament suffered when an opponent going for a foul bumped him as he was dribbling. He missed the last month this spring when an opponent bumped his knee jumping for a rebound, leading to an awkward landing. George injured an elbow ligament in 2021 when an opponent landed on it. “It’s important to share things, the way we see it, listen to what those guys see, and try to work through it together and build a team that every year has the chance to compete for a championship,” Frank said.īut if their influence remains extensive, so does their injury history. Front-office executives do not always court players’ opinions on roster additions, but the Clippers have looped in both on potential moves.
Leonard and George retain sizable influence within the Clippers. Other teams that considered acquiring George this offseason were said to be somewhat cooled by the belief he would seek the maximum.
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Both suffered knee injuries this spring.Īn executive for one team, who asked for anonymity so as to not damage relationships within the league, felt that committing the full four years and $220 million to either player would be “bad business” because of their unpredictable availability.Īnother rival executive, also seeking anonymity, said they would be wary of making a big extension offer, doubting how much value could be recouped should the team look to break up the duo, citing “low trade value” for both players in the wake of their most recent injuries.Īs The Times reported in June, the New York Knicks were hesitant about potentially acquiring George in part because they believed his representatives would ask for an extension. Frank said this summer he “100%” expects Leonard to be ready for camp in October as well as George. Out of a possible 308 regular-season games in the last four seasons, Leonard has appeared in 161 and George 189. The Clippers have been without one or both of their stars because of injuries in three consecutive postseasons. “Do they lock them in, or keep some flexibility with the new arena?” “When people talk about the Clippers, they’re at a crossroads,” one agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Finding younger, less-expensive talent will be even more important, as will making sure the players who earn the most provide sizable production. The Clippers are one of the NBA’s highest-spending teams under Steve Ballmer’s ownership, and starting this season the league’s most free-wheeling spenders will suffer punitive penalties under the new collective bargaining agreement. Yet injuries have made the highlights fleeting and produced frustration about the lack of on-court continuity.
Since the All-NBA wings arrived, both have produced All-Star seasons while pushing the franchise to its first conference finals appearance two years ago.
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