51 articles
LAC • Forward • #2
2 days ago
Lue did say the injury isn’t one they consider to be serious, which is good news. However, the Clippers will have to operate without him for now. Nicolas Batum should continue to start in his place, but that hasn’t resulted in much fantasy production from him.
Source: Duane Rankin
LAC • Forward • #2
3 days ago
Leonard will miss a third consecutive game after spraining his left ankle during the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to the Heat. Nicolas Batum has replaced him in the starting lineup but provided limited production, so he isn’t worth the risk in fantasy leagues. John Collins, who’s already rostered in most standard leagues, will have added value despite coming off the bench.
Source: Janis Carr
LAC • Forward • #2
5 days ago
Leonard will miss a second straight game with a sprained ankle. Nicolas Batum replaced him in the lineup for Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors, providing little fantasy value. John Collins, who’s rostered in most leagues, will receive a boost to his fantasy value, even if he remains on the bench.
Source: Joey Linn
LAC • Forward • #2
6 days ago
So much for Leonard’s proclamation after Friday’s win over the Pelicans that he was not restricted in any way. He’ll sit out Tuesday’s game against the reigning champs, the Clippers’ second game in as many nights. John Collins is a potential replacement in the starting lineup; he’ll have increased fantasy value even if he comes off the bench.
Source: Law Murray
LAC • Forward • #2
7 days ago
For the second time in as many games, Leonard had the opportunity to play the role of hero in the final seconds on Monday. Unfortunately for him and the Clippers, Leonard’s jump from just inside the three-point line fell short. The defeat ended an 11-year personal win streak for Kawhi against the Heat, but that won’t concern fantasy managers. What will concern them is Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue saying after the loss that he wasn’t sure if Leonard or Bradley Beal (12/1/2/1 with two three-pointers) would be available for Tuesday’s game against the Thunder. Leonard said after Friday’s win over the Thunder that he isn’t under any restrictions and will play both games of the back-to-back. Don’t be surprised if his name shows up on the injury report.
Source: Justin Russo
LAC • Forward • #2
10 days ago
Leonard had a big night in Friday’s NBA Cup opener, capping it with a jumper as time expired. Not only did he score efficiently, but the Clippers star had a huge first half on the defensive end of the floor. Leonard recorded five steals before halftime, matching his career-high for steals in a half. He would finish with more steals (six) than missed shots, and Leonard is currently providing top-10 value in nine-cat formats. Production has never been the issue for Kawhi; it’s the availability. However, following Friday’s win, Leonard said he isn’t under any restrictions and will play both games of the Clippers’ Monday/Tuesday back-to-back to begin Week 3.
Source: NBA
LAC • Forward • #2
13 days ago
Leonard may have been the Clippers’ second-leading scorer on Tuesday, but this was a relatively quiet performance from the six-time All-Star. He shot 4-of-10 from the field in the first half and provided limited value outside of points and rebounds. Through four games, Leonard has been what many fantasy managers expected him to be, providing fourth-round value in nine-cat formats. The hope is that he’s consistently available, which would significantly raise Leonard’s fantasy ceiling.
LAC • Forward • #2
15 days ago
Leonard has now posted at least 27 points, at least five rebounds and at least four assists in each of his last two games. The 34-year-old small forward has picked up his play significantly since dropping 10 points in the season opener against the Jazz. Leonard has also played at least 29 minutes in all three games this year and health will be key for his success throughout the season.
LAC • Forward • #2
17 days ago
Leonard bounced back from a poor 10-point, 3-of-9 shooting performance in the Clippers’ blowout loss to the Jazz on Wednesday by nearly scoring 30 in a one-sided win over the Suns on Friday. The two-time Finals MVP ramped things up in the second quarter on the offensive end, which gave him the boost that ultimately led him to finish as one of the two highest scorers in the game. Leonard performed well on both ends of the floor and remains capable of having dominant outings on a nightly basis.
LAC • Forward • #2
19 days ago
In one of the biggest upsets of Wednesday’s NBA action, the Clippers didn’t show up for the season opener in Utah. Leonard wasn’t without blame in this one. The 24-year-old forward had just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting in 29 minutes. Kawhi was 1-of-5 from behind the three-point line, turned the ball over twice and was -25 in the 21-point loss to the Jazz. Given all the injuries in his past, fantasy managers shudder to think that this is one of the healthy games they’ll get from Leonard this year.
LAC • Forward • #2
29 days ago
He chipped in two rebounds, an assist and two steals. Leonard led LA in scoring, and he did it efficiently, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Availability is always the biggest concern when drafting Leonard in fantasy hoops, but he’s proven to be an elite contributor on both ends of the floor when healthy.
LAC • Forward • #2
about 1 month ago
Leonard was supposed to be capped at 17 minutes in Thursday’s preseason opener, but he exceeded that threshold by one minute. The Clippers had to be encouraged by what they saw from their star forward, as he shot the ball well from beyond the arc. Compared to other offseasons, Leonard could focus on his game instead of getting healthy. That should benefit him once the regular season begins, but fantasy managers should anticipate Kawhi being under some restrictions either way. The availability question is what lowers his ADP, as the Clippers forward can offer elite value when he’s on the floor.
LAC • Forward • #2
about 1 month ago
Leonard has been the subject of conversation throughout the offseason, but that is due to the contract he agreed to with the Clippers rather than his health. While the league’s investigation into the contract is ongoing, having a healthy Leonard is excellent news for the Clippers as they open training camp on Tuesday. The lingering question is whether or not the load management actions of the past will remain in place. Given the amount of experience the Clippers added this offseason, it’s conceivable that they’ll prioritize having Leonard fully healthy for the postseason over him surpassing 65 games played, which he has done once since the 2016-17 season.
Source: Law Murray
LAC • Forward • #2
2 months ago
Things started on Wednesday morning when journalist Pablo Torre revealed his findings regarding Kawhi Leonard’s receipt of a $28 million endorsement deal from a fraudulent tree brokerage company funded by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. According to the investigation, the Clippers star performed no work in exchange for the endorsement deal. If the NBA finds in its investigation that this deal was made to circumvent league salary cap rules, the Clippers could be in serious trouble. The company, Aspiration, filed for bankruptcy in March, with an LLC connected to Leonard on the list of creditors. Aspiration owes KL2 Aspire LLC $7 million, and its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, was arrested in March under allegations that he conspired to defraud investors of $145 million.
Source: Shams Charania
LAC • Forward • #2
6 months ago
Leonard was one of the few bright spots on offense for the Clippers, but things didn’t go well during his time on the floor. They were outscored by 33 points during his 33 minutes. It was a bitter end to a strong year for Kawhi. He didn’t make his season debut until January, but he ended up playing 37 games and was still healthy for the postseason. Though he’ll be 34 at the start of next season, he’ll be healthy heading into the offseason, which is an excellent development for him. Injuries will continue to push him down draft boards, which could make him an excellent value in fantasy basketball next season.
LAC • Forward • #2
6 months ago
Leonard was one of the few bright spots on offense for the Clippers, but things didn’t go well during his time on the floor. They were outscored by 33 points during his 33 minutes. It was a bitter end to a strong year for Kawhi. He didn’t make his season debut until January, but he ended up playing 37 games and was still healthy for the postseason. Though he’ll be 34 at the start of next season, he’ll be healthy heading into the offseason, which is an excellent development for him. Injuries will continue to push him down draft boards, which could make him an excellent value in fantasy basketball next season.
LAC • Forward • #2
6 months ago
Leonard followed up a near-triple-double performance in Game 5 with a big double-double. The scoring total was the former two-time NBA Finals MVP’s highest output on the series since a masterful Game 2, where he scored 39 points. Leonard got the job done at all three levels and was steady throughout. The Clippers will need more of the same from their go-to scorer on Saturday when they head to Denver for a series-deciding Game 7.
LAC • Forward • #2
6 months ago
Leonard followed up a near-triple-double performance in Game 5 with a big double-double on Thursday. The scoring total was the former two-time NBA Finals MVP’s highest output on the series since a masterful Game 2, where he scored 39 points. Leonard got the job done at all three levels and was steady throughout. The Clippers will need more of the same from their go-to scorer on Saturday when they head to Denver for a series-deciding Game 7.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard did a little bit of everything for the Clippers in Game 5. The two-time NBA Finals MVP posted a series-high in assists and also hit the glass hard, resulting in a near-triple-double. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in all five games of this series. However, the Clippers may need even more from him going forward as they look to extend their season beyond Thursday’s Game 6 at the Intuit Dome.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard has scored at least 21 points in all four games of this series, essentially looking like the elite version of himself. He and Bogdan Bogdanovic (7/4/2 with one three-pointer) were key factors in the Clippers’ 32-9 fourth-quarter run, serving as the “point men” in the team’s 1-1-3 zone. Denver’s offense grinded to a halt down the stretch, but Aaron Gordon’s dunk of a Nikola Jokic miss gave the visitors the two-point win. Leonard and company will look to bounce back on Tuesday, with the Nuggets hosting Game 5.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
After going off for 39 points in Game 2, Leonard did cool off some in Game 3. The Nuggets devoted more attention to him defensively, but the Klaw had plenty of help in the 117-84 demolition. Four starters scored at least 19 points, and two reserves also reached double figures. And with Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon playing through injuries, Denver’s task of slowing Leonard may be more difficult moving forward. Game 4 is on Saturday afternoon.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
This was an unreal performance from Leonard. He entered halftime with just one brick and didn’t miss his second shot until the fourth quarter. He also ended the first half with a triple at the buzzer to give the Clippers a lead. He scored or assisted on LA’s final seven points, and he had a steal with 37.1 seconds left that helped secure the win. Kawhi played like the player that willed the Raptors to a championship in 2019. Injuries have derailed his tenure with the Clippers, but if he continues to channel the Kawhi of the past, they’ll have a chance to make a run.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard shot the ball well in Saturday’s series opener, but the issue is what happened when he was not shooting. The Klaw committed a game-high seven turnovers, and the last thing a team can afford to do in the postseason is give away possessions. However, there should not be too much concern if Leonard’s regular-season production is an indication of what’s to come. He only had five games with at least four turnovers. Leonard will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Monday.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard shot the ball well in Saturday’s series opener, but the issue is what happened when he was not shooting. The Klaw committed a game-high seven turnovers, and the last thing a team can afford to do in the postseason is give away possessions. However, there should not be too much concern if Leonard’s regular-season production is an indication of what’s to come. He only had five games with at least four turnovers. Leonard will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Monday.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard was outstanding on Sunday, as the Clippers’ overtime victory gave the team the fifth seed in the West. His workload was just as encouraging as Leonard’s production, as he played 47 of 53 minutes without issues. The Clippers avoiding the play-in tournament gets their stars additional time off ahead of next weekend’s Game 1 in Denver, which could be critical for Leonard. After years of struggling with injuries, he appears to be in his best form.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Leonard made his presence felt in the first half and entered the break with 20 points, which included a triple with one second left in the second quarter to give the Clippers a halftime lead. Leonard has been playing at a high level over the past month and is a big reason why the Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the league entering the postseason. They will play the Warriors on Sunday to wrap up the regular season in what will be a must-win game for both teams.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Saturday’s game went as well as the Clippers could have hoped regarding Leonard. For the first time this season, he played both games of a back-to-back. Also, Leonard was effective while on the court and only needed to play for 25 minutes. Kawhi has been on fire over the past month, providing top-10 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. The Clippers’ four-game Week 23 begins with a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back, and one of those games is against a team headed to the lottery in San Antonio. Although Saturday’s experience was positive, it isn’t guaranteed Leonard will be available for both ends of the Clippers’ final back-to-back of the season.
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
For the first time this season, Leonard is available for both games of a back-to-back. With the Clippers blowing out the Mavericks on Friday, he only needed to play 24 minutes. For the rematch, Leonard will be limited to 25-30 minutes. Derrick Jones Jr. and Bogdan Bogdanovic miss out on boosts to their respective fantasy values with Leonard in the lineup.
Source: Law Murray
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
Unlike previous back-to-backs, the door is open for Leonard to be available for both ends. He only needed to play 24 minutes in Friday’s rout of the Mavericks, which may increase his chances of being available Saturday night. If Leonard does not play, Derrick Jones Jr. is the likely replacement in the lineup, while Ben Simmons would have an enhanced role off the bench.
Source: Law Murray
LAC • Forward • #2
7 months ago
While Leonard has not reached the point where he’ll be allowed to play both games of back-to-backs, the door has not been completely closed on his playing Saturday against the Mavericks. Following Friday’s victory, the Clippers’ star said, “We’ll see” when asked if he’ll be available. For fantasy managers, it would certainly be helpful if Leonard were to play, especially after logging 24 minutes on Friday.
Source: Law Murray