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Clippers: Here’s why Kawhi Leonard’s injury changes his contract situation

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 injury of LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard has turned out to be very serious.

He has undergone surgery for a partially torn ACL, and nobody knows how long he’s going to be out until. In many cases, a torn ACL is a 9 to 12 month recovery, but some recoveries can be quicker. Also, this is just a partial tear.

Regardless, however, this injury situation does impact the likelihood of picking up his player option for the 2021-2022 season.

Kawhi Leonard is more likely to pick up his player option with the LA Clippers after this injury update.

There isn’t a drastic difference in the likelihood that Kawhi Leonard picks up his player option with the LA Clippers now, but there is a difference.

The player option is worth $36,016,200 for next year, should he pick it up.

If Leonard is healthy, he’s worth much more than that. Leonard knows this, and could easily decide to turn down the option and pursue what the rest of the league is willing to pay for him. There are other stars who were set to be free agents this year like Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo who signed extensions worth much more average annual contract value than that.

That being said, if his price tag from other teams is affected by this injury news, it’s going to be lowered. There’s now more risk that could come along with another team signing Kawhi to a very lucrative deal.

All signs point to Kawhi wanting to stay with the Clips as of right now, due to his reportedly strong relationship with LA Clippers Head Coach Ty Lue, as well as being in the location he wants to be in.

So, if the money may not be as great elsewhere, why leave? Of course, Kawhi could turn down the option and still sign with the Clippers, but the chances of him turning down the option are now a little lower.

If there’s not as much money elsewhere, his chances of staying will be greater. Therefore, his chances of testing the free agency market will be lower.

Next. Pass/pursue on free agents. dark

Of course, there could still be a team that could try to throw a lot of money at him, but the chances are simply lower due to the potential risk that those teams could see in signing him to a deal like that.