Although Kawhi Leonard being out for his current scandal would be unfortunate, James Harden is there to handle his duties. However, if he goes the extra mile to make up for Leonard’s absence, the LA Clippers would have other weaknesses, leaving their front office in exploration mode for a mid-season signing.
With any other head coach, this would be a legitimate worry the Clippers’ front office would have on their minds. Most would fold like a pretzel without their franchise superstar, even if a guy like James Harden is present, as the 36-year-old point guard has a physical barrier of how much he can handle.
Moreover, Tyronn Lue could manage any situation in the books for the Clippers, and at worst, keep them in the playoff race. He did it last season, and will be the ultimate savior if Leonard’s playing time next season gets cut short by Adam Silver and the league office.
The LA Clippers will resort to Tyronn Lue if Kawhi Leonard’s scandal leads to missed time
Tyronn Lue will have a great deal of help next season if Kawhi Leonard is forced to the sidelines, as a superstar like James Harden will still be there, and his skillset allows the coaching staff to form many lineups that can blend athleticism, size, three-point shooting, and defense.
Lue also has an assistant coach in Jeff Van Gundy, who every team in the NBA would pay any dollar amount to employ. His defensive mindset is rare, and having this mix with years of experience is a real positive to have on the court.
But, at the end of the day, it is all simply help for Lue. He will have to be the one to accurately spread out the minutes, manage the starting lineups, and coach his players in a way they understand and apply what is needed to win games.
However, Lue has a part of his coaching style that makes him fit for a season that could potentially exclude Leonard, and that is his ability to adjust. He has won polls in this category for two years in a row, underscoring that this is not a biased belief amongst the fan base, but something opponents can also agree on.
That said, Leonard could be out for numerous games, and maybe worse, or he may not even be in any trouble at all. Yet, having Lue as the coach makes life less stressful for the ownership, front office, and fanbase.