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PLAYA VISTA, Calif .– Kawhi Leonard said that part of the reason he signed a four-year maximum contract to stay with the LA Clippers instead of opting for a shorter contract which could lead to a longer contract. lucrative is that he hopes to come back and play this season.
Leonard has not given a timeline for his recovery after surgery on July 13 to repair a partially torn right ACL that has kept him out of the Clippers’ last eight playoff games. He should be running out of time. But the team star has revealed that a possible return this season was factored into his decision to sign his four-year, $ 176.3 million contract in August.
“Because I wanted to play,” Leonard explained of his decision on team media day Monday. “I mean, the best situation for me was to do it individually and then pull out and sign a five-year long-term agreement. But it raises a lot of concerns for you and your work, and it creates intrigue that I will leave the team [after one year].
“I wanted to make some money and I wanted to be able to come back if I could this year. If I had taken the one-and-one, I probably wouldn’t have played. [this season] just to be careful and withdrew and took five years. “
The Clippers have avoided setting a timeline for Leonard’s return to the game. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said last week that “we’re not even breaking that” when asked if he expected Leonard to be able to play this season.
“It’s just that no one knows when you’re dealing with a recovery from an ACL [injury], the deadline, ”Frank said.
Leonard said on Monday that “it is very difficult” to go through day-to-day rehab, especially because he’s injured “and he doesn’t really feel like he’s hurt.” Leonard was injured in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs against Utah after being fouled during practice. Leonard initially thought he was fine, but the team kept him out of the dying minutes of this game. He even traveled with the team to Utah before returning to Los Angeles ahead of Game 5 once he found out he was out. The team initially called the injury a sprained right knee.
“I hope he will come back on October 21 [for the opener]”Clippers head coach Ty Lue said when asked if he allowed himself to think Leonard might be back for the playoffs.” But the reality is he won’t be ready to that time. We don’t want to force him or pressure him. We want to make sure he readjusts, that he does everything he can to come back as soon as possible, and if it’s next season, it’s next season. “
“We don’t want to force him to come back too soon. We want to make sure he’s 100% when he comes back.”
Leonard’s injury was factored into his free agency decision this offseason. He could have signed a four-year, $ 187 million extension if he had opted for the $ 36 million he was set to earn in the 2021-22 season. But he declined this option for free will.
As a free agent, Leonard could have signed a two-year, $ 82 million contract with a player option in 2022-23 and become a free agent again in 2022, which would have made him eligible to sign a $ 235 million over five years max. contract with the Clippers, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. But Leonard is hoping to return this season, so he accepted the five-year contract.
Staying with the Clippers was never in doubt for Leonard. Now the question is when will he be able to play again.
“Just day to day,” Leonard said. “I just work with the staff on a day-to-day basis, and then when that available date comes up, we’ll be ready for that, and that will be made public.”
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