LA Clippers: 3 reasons Stephen A. Smith is wrong about Kawhi Leonard

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had a ridiculous take about LA Clippers‘ superstar Kawhi Leonard‘s future before the game yesterday.

He has decided that he doesn’t “know if it’s in the Clippers’ best interest to keep him.” Listen to what he has to say below:

This is a disappointing take from one of the most notable and accomplished basketball minds in sports media. It couldn’t be more false.

No. 1 reason Stephen A. Smith is wrong about the LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard: ‘Nobody has said that’

In Stephen A.’s explanation for saying that he doesn’t know if it’s in the LA Clippers’ best interest to keep Kawhi Leonard, he started off by saying that ‘Nobody has said that (it would be in their best interest to keep him).’

Well, Stephen A., that’s exactly the point. Nobody has said it, because it makes no sense.

There’s no basis to make this claim. Even when it’s been speculated that Kawhi could possibly leave this offseason, it was pure speculation. Also, the only case in which it was thought to be a legitimate possibility is if the Clippers were to exit the postseason early.

Even then, that was for Kawhi’s best interest. There’s no argument to be made that Kawhi coming back wouldn’t be in the best interest of the team, as Stephen A. suggested.

Nobody on the team has expressed any signs that they may not dig the idea of a top five player in this league leaving.

No. 2 reason Stephen A. Smith is wrong about the LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard: His leadership comments make no sense

Stephen A. Smith’s thoughts on how Kawhi Leonard shakes up as a leader on the LA Clippers were quite cringeworthy.

“His personality doesn’t gravitate towards leadership,” said Smith. “He’s more of a ‘watch me do it.’ A ‘do it’ kind of guy, as opposed to really galvanizing the troops, and being a talker.”

So what if Kawhi’s not a “talker?” It obviously doesn’t effect his leadership, as his teammates have cited that he even leads while being injured and not even on the trips with the team.

Kawhi talks when he needs to talk. Sure, he’s not known as an incredibly vocal leader, but his style clearly works. Ask the city of Toronto is he was a good enough leader for the Raptors. He may not be somebody with a loud leading style, but his reputation as a guy who can lead well by example is a great reputation.

I don’t know where Stephen A. got this idea that Kawhi leading by example is somehow a bad thing. None of his Clipper teammates have come out and said that it’s been any sort of problem.

No. 3 reason Stephen A. Smith is wrong about the LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard: Terance Mann isn’t quite ready

Lastly, Stephen A. Smith completely whiffed on his Kawhi Leonard take because of his false assessment of LA Clippers’ second-year SG Terance Mann.

Mann is undoubtedly a very good player, and there’s so much to like about his game. Stephen A. Smith, however, used him as a primary reason as to why it may not be in the Clippers’ best interest to keep Kawhi.

While Mann is developing very nicely, and has stepped up at many timely spots for the Clips in the playoffs, he’s only started in 21 games in his whole career. He’s never averaged more than seven points per game in a season, and 1.6 assists per game.

That can be a little misleading, as his best basketball has come in the playoffs. However, Stephen A. is still misguided. At the time Stephen A. said this, Mann was averaging 7.9 points per game, 0.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game in this year’s postseason.

I like that Stephen A. is giving Terance Mann credit, because stats don’t tell the whole story. We know how good Terance Mann has shown the ability to be, and he’s certainly a quality player. The issue is that when replacing Leonard and wanting to bank on a younger player developing into a replacement for Kawhi’s presence, he has to be more proven that what Mann has proven so far.

It’s nothing against Mann, as he is an impact player for the Clips, but he’s not good enough to justify letting Leonard go elsewhere.

This whole take from Stephen A. was very confusing. I respect him, as very few have accomplished what he has in sports media. He was very incorrect on this one, however, as the Clippers will certainly like Kawhi back for his last year on his contract.