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Clippers: Kawhi Leonard surgery update throws wrench in LAC future

By Evan Desai

Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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The LA Clippers have now announced that Kawhi Leonard has partially torn his right ACL.

They have announced that Leonard has undergone surgery to fix that partial tear.

First off, it’s great that the surgery was successful, because Kawhi’s health is most important.

This certainly makes things complicated, however, as far as the Clippers’ plans this offseason.

The LA Clippers’ future became a little less clear with this Kawhi Leonard health update.

We knew Kawhi Leonard was hurt, but we were hoping the injury to the LA Clippers superstar wasn’t an ACL injury. They tend to be a bit more serious than typical leg injuries, and take a bit longer to heal from.

Recovering from ACL tears is usually a tough road to recovery. For what it’s worth, the Clippers haven’t released a timetable for this injury and recovery.

Leonard has a player option worth $36,016,200 to pick up this offseason. He can do that, or turn it down and test the market.

Right now, his worth may have gone down a bit, due to how serious this information is, and how serious this injury could potentially be.

This could mean that the Clippers now have more of a chance to keep him, if his price tag drops a bit. Because if teams are wary of signing the injured superstar, he will likely cost less even if he tests the market.

I don’t think any of the teams in the running for him are as attractive of a destination for Kawhi as the Clips, if they’re not willing to pay him the most money. (I don’t think they are either way, honestly.)

This could also cast doubt on the chances of Leonard staying, however. One of the other teams interested in Kawhi could potentially see this as their opportunity to out-offer the rest, and continue to plan to pay him the big bucks.

Then, the Clippers would have a decision to make. Do they want to offer him a raise over the $36,016,200 mark they originally agreed on in 2019?

The ideal situation would be that Leonard picks up his option and can at least play in the last couple months of 2022 and the postseason, that way they can keep him, but not commit too much money to the injured star.

I’d be okay with paying more money for him, but it depends how much. If he’s going to want north of a $45 million per year contract for a long-term deal, then that could potentially be a tough commitment to make considering that the future of his health is very uncertain right now. The Clippers are in a tough spot, and it’s not clear what the best decision on that would be right now.

Next. 3 ideal replacements if Kawhi signs elsewhere. dark

Leonard is the face of our franchise. I’d love for him to be back, but the Clippers need to do their digging and find out how serious this injury is. If he’s going to miss extended time (which it looks like he may miss next season completely), it may not be in their best interest to sign him to a five or more year deal worth north of $45 million per year on average.

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