RealGM Basketball Wiretap

23 April 2024

• Kawhi Leonard Questionable For Game 2 On Tuesday

  Kawhi Leonard is questionable for Tuesday night's Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks.

  "He's going to go through practice today and we'll see," said head coach Ty Lue on Monday.

  Leonard has missed the last nine games with inflammation in his right knee.

  The Clippers are up 1-0 in the series.

• Kawhi Leonard Out For Game 1 Against Mavericks

  Kawhi Leonard has been declared out for Game 1 by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers host the Dallas Mavericks in their first round series.

  Leonard has been out with inflammation in his right knee.

• Kawhi Leonard May Not Be Available To Start Playoffs

  There is increased doubt that Kawhi Leonard will be available at the start of the Los Angeles Clippers' first-round against the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard has been out since the beginning of April with inflammation in his right knee. That's the knee Leonard has had surgically repaired in the past.

  Ty Lue said his star forward has been doing shooting drills and will shoot more today. However, Leonard has yet to go through a contact practice since the knee issue flared up.

  The Clippers open the first round on Sunday afternoon. LA will host Dallas in a highly anticipated matchup. Both teams are considered potential contenders to make it to the Western Conference Finals, if not the NBA Finals.

• Clippers Receive $25K Fine Over Violating Injury Reporting Rules

  The NBA fined the Los Angeles Clippers $25,000 over violating injury reporting rules.

  The Clippers failed to accurately disclose the status of Paul George, Norm Powell and Russell Westbrook ahead of last Sunday's game against the Rockets.

  The three players, who did not play, were not listed on the team's injury report before the game.

• Kawhi Leonard Dealing With Inflammation In Knee, Questionable For Game 1

  Kawhi Leonard continues to have inflammation in his surgically repaired knee and is questionable for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks.

  Lawrence Frank said Leonard has yet to go through contact before Thursday's practice. Frank said Leonard's right knee, which has undergone surgeries to repair a torn ACL and meniscus, is structurally "solid and intact" but that he is experiencing "some very, very stubborn inflammation."

  "He's doing everything," Frank said of Leonard treating his knee. "Our medical staff is doing everything to get the inflammation down so he can play. Progress has been made, but more progress needs -- the inflammation needs to continue to reduce so he can do functional basketball movements."

  Leonard underwent surgery on his torn ACL in July 2021 and a cleanup procedure to repair a torn meniscus in June 2023.

• Ty Lue Unsure Of Kawhi Leonard Availability For Game 1

  Ty Lue was not sure whether Kawhi Leonard would be available to play in Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks.

  "We just take it day by day. He's progressing. He's getting better. We don't have a timetable," said Lue.

  Leonard did not participate in any 5-on-5 drills on Tuesday.

  Leonard missed the last eight games of the regular season due to inflammation in his right knee.

  Lue added that he was preparing his game plan to include Leonard.

  "I'm preparing for him, to have him on the court," added Lue.

• Blake Griffin Announces Retirement From NBA

  Blake Griffin has announced his retirement from the NBA after 14 season.

  Griffin was a six-time All-Star and made five All-NBA teams. Griffin finished third in MVP voting in 2014, but was a Second Team selection behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James at the forward positions.

  Griffin signed a five-year, $173 million contract with the Clippers during the 2017 offseason, but was traded in January 2018 to the Detroit Pistons.

• NBA Playoffs 2024: Western Conference First Round Matchups

  The Western Conference seeds are set following the end of regular season on Sunday. The first round begins on Saturday, April 20th.

  First Round Matchups

  • No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 (Pelicans, Lakers, Kingsor Warriors)

  • No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 (Pelicans or Lakers)

  • No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns

  • No. 4 LA Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

  Play-In

  • No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers

  • No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors

• Clippers Signing Kai Jones; Waiving Josh Primo

  The LA Clippers are doing some roster shuffling ahead of the end of the regular season. LA is signing big man Kai Jones to a multi-year deal. To create the roster spot for Jones, the Clippers will waive Josh Primo. Jones will be eligible to play in the 2024 NBA Playoffs for LA.

  Jones was waived ahead of the start of the season by the Charlotte Hornets. The 6-foot-11 forward/center signed a 10-day deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in March, but did not appear in an NBA game. Jones did appear in two G League games, and averaged 11 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and a block per game.

  Primo appeared in two NBA games for the Clippers this season. He also played in 35 G League games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in late March.

• Sixers Will Make Paul George 'Top Target' In Offseason

  The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to make Paul George their "top target" during the 2024 offseason if he declines his $48.8 million option with the Los Angeles Clippers.

  George was widely expected to sign a contract extension with the Clippers following the three-year, $152.4 million deal signed by Kawhi Leonard in January.

  The Sixers only have Joel Embiid and Paul Reed under contract next season, while Tyrese Maxey will be a restricted free agent with a small cap hold. The Sixers could create close to $65 million in cap space, which would be more than enough to sign George to his max.