3 Clippers that earned untouchable status, 3 that should be cut loose

Untouchable 2: Kawhi Leonard

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably beyond sick of the Kawhi Leonard experience. He has tremendous basketball abilities, but absolutely zero reliable availability, which makes it hard to justify building a team around him.

It’s a shame, because when healthy, Leonard can go toe-to-toe with anyone. Watching him duel with Kevin Durant in Game 1 and 2 of 2023’s first round series bordered on a religious experience, but then… poof. Like a fairy in the wind, he was gone. What followed was an infuriating lack of information about if Leonard would return during the series, and the Clippers never had a real chance after that.

“So how on EARTH does that make him untouchable?! Do you even KNOW what the word UNTOUCHABLE MEANS!?!?” 

I hear you, I do. Leonard’s disasterclass in accountability makes it tempting to cut bait, but I’d argue that’s just not worth it. With his injury history and his questionable effect on team culture, does he even buy you a first round pick on the open market? Maybe, but with his stock so low, nothing close to a Gobert or Durant level haul is coming back.

So as much as it pains me physically to recommend this, it’s best to ride it out with Leonard until the wheels finally fall off. All Clippers fans can do is cross their fingers that he can be healthy in April.

Maybe Steve Balmer should wrap him in bubble wrap until the All-Star Break, before slowly removing it each game until his knees are finally free from the plastic protection by late March. Seems like the logical solution.