RealGM Basketball Wiretap

31 January 2025

• Clippers Continuing To Prioritize Avoiding Long-Term Salary

  The Los Angeles Clippers continue to prioritize keeping their long-term salary books clear, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The Clippers signaled this strategy when they decided not to match Paul George's four-year max contract offer from the Philadelphia 76ers.

  The Clippers could have significant financial flexibility in 2027 when Kawhi Leonard's contract expires. Lawrence Frank and the Clippers appear to be setting themselves up to take advantage again of Steve Ballmer's willingness to spend once Leonard's tenure with the team ends.

  The Clippers signed a number of players to shorter term value deals this past offseason and have been more competitive than many expected.

• Kawhi Leonard Out Thursday Versus Blazers

  Kawhi Leonard will miss Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers as he continues to make his return from knee inflammation, according to Ty Lue.

  The game is a second of a back-to-back.

  Leonard, who is still on a 20-minute restriction, said he was taking his time in getting back into shape.

  The NBA recently rescheduled nine games postponed from wildfires and ice, with the Clippers now playing six games in nine days.

• NBA Reschedules 9 Games Postponed By Wildfires, Ice; Clippers To Play 6 Games In 9 Nights

  The NBA rescheduled nine games featuring nine teams postponed by wildfires and ice from last week.

  The new schedule features the Clippers, who had four games affected by the new schedule, playing six games in nine days.

  "We've just got to take it game by game. We can't fall victim to the schedule. It was out of the NBA's hands, what happened to our city, and so we understand that. So we just got to lock in, take it game by game and then just go from there," said Ty Lue.

  The Spurs matchup against the Lakers, originally scheduled for 1/11, is still TBD.

  The new dates for rescheduled games are below:

  Hornet at Lakers: 2/19

  Rockets at Hawks: 1/28

  Hornets at Clippers: 3/16

  Bulls at Clippers: 1/20

  Wizards at Jazz: 3/19

  Jazz at Lakers: 2/10

  Wizards at Clippers: 1/23

  Wizards at Blazers: 3/17

  Clippers at Jazz: 2/13

• Kawhi Leonard Not In Hurry To Break Minutes Restriction: 'I'm Taking My Time'

  Kawhi Leonard said that he was in no rush to break his minutes restriction since recently returning from his knee injury.

  "I'm taking my time. I done that in the past and it led me on the bench, so I'm good where I'm at," said Leonard on Tuesday.

  Leonard has played 61 minutes over three games, totaling 26 points and 10 rebounds.

  "I feel good and as long as I'm feeling good on the court, I'm able to move quickly, get to my spots. That's all I'm looking for," added Leonard.

  Leonard also missed a game last week due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

  The Clippers are currently 21-17 on the year.

• NBA Intends For Clippers, Lakers To Host Home Games On Monday As Scheduled

  The NBA has informed teams involved in games scheduled to be play in Los Angeles on Monday that the intention for those games to be played as scheduled. The LA Clippers are set to host the Miami Heat, while the Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to host the San Antonio Spurs.

  The NBA previously postponed games for the Clippers and Lakers last week due to the wildfires throughout Los Angeles. The hope is that the fires are contained enough for the games to be played as scheduled.

  The league preemptively made a schedule adjustment for Wednesday of this week. The NBA moved the Lakers off national TV on ESPN. They then pushed back the start of the Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves to be the second national TV on Wednesday night.

  Lakers coach JJ Redick said last week that he hoped his team would play on Monday. Redick, who lost his rental home in the fires, said that he and the Lakers players all hoped to play the game as scheduled on Monday.

• Spurs-Lakers, Hornets-Clippers Games Postponed Due To Fires

  The NBA postponed Saturday night's games between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, and the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers due to ongoing wildfires.

  The rescheduled dates will be announced sometime in the future.

  The league also did not specify whether it would postpone more games.

  "The NBA and the Clippers and Lakers organizations have been in communication with local officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood about the ongoing situation in the Los Angeles area and the game postponements ensure no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts," said the league in a statement.

  The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are also donating $1 million to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations for immediate relief.

• Kawhi Leonard To Be Away From Clippers To Tend To Family Impacted By L.A. Wildfires

  Kawhi Leonard is stepping away from the Los Angeles Clippers to be with family who were forced to evaluate due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

  Leonard recently made his season debut on Saturday after missing the first part of the season.

  The Clippers play at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday and don't play again until Saturday when they host the Charlotte Hornets.

• Kawhi Leonard Expected To Make Season Debut On Saturday Versus Hawks

  Kawhi Leonard is expected to make his Los Angeles Clippers season debut on Saturday versus the Atlanta Hawks.

  Leonard is officially listed as questionable for the game.

  Leonard underwent a procedure on his right knee during the offseason.

• Clippers Claim Terminated Staffer Sought Millions Before Filing Lawsuit

  The Los Angeles Clippers are claim a former strength and conditioning coach asked for millions of dollars from the franchise before filing his wrongful termination lawsuit in October. Randy Shelton sued the Clippers and Lawrence Frank saying he was punished for expressing concerns about how Kawhi Leonard's injuries were managed.

  The Clippers asked that the dispute be settled by arbitration, as per the terms of the employment contract Shelton signed in November 2021. The Clippers terminated Shelton in July 2023 and paid his salary through the end of his contract in June 2024.

  "That should have been the end of the matter," the Clippers said in their response. "But [Shelton] misperceived himself as a crusader and wanted attention. After cashing the last of the Clippers' checks, he demanded that the Clippers pay him millions of dollars for the imagined wrongs asserted in his complaint. When the team refused, he sued."

  In his lawsuit, Shelton alleged that he was hired as part of a yearslong recruiting campaign to lure Leonard and said the Clippers "leapt well beyond the bounds of the NBA constitution" with respect to potential tampering violations. Shelton also alleged that the team's "mishandling of Kawhi Leonard's injury and return-to-play protocol has been mind-blowing" and that "the disregard for his recovery process is unacceptable." Shelton said the Clippers placed more of an emphasis on Leonard's productivity than his recovery.

• Kawhi Leonard Targeting Jan. 4th For Season Debut

  Kawhi Leonard is targeting Jan. 4th for his regular season debut after missing the beginning of the campaign due to injury management on his surgically repaired right knee.

  The Clippers have been reluctant to provide a timetable for Leonard since holding him out of training camp drills in September.

  Leonard traveled on the Clippers' recent road trip to Dallas and participated in a team-sanctioned workout. Leonard has been practicing with the San Diego Clippers during the team's current road trip.

  Leonad first returned to practice in a limited capacity on Dec. 10.