The LA Clippers will proceed cautiously despite the fact that Leonard has been cleared to participate in training camp.
Leonard will participate in his first 5-on-5 camp next week in Las Vegas, according to Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations.
Frank said that he felt great. He wants to take part in everything. We're going to be careful. It will be step by step.
Frank said that he was clear. He will say that he wants to do everything. We will be very careful in the approach.
Leonard tore his right knee in the second-round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz and missed the rest of the season.
The Clippers will play their first two preseason games in Seattle after training at UNLV. Frank doesn't know if Leonard will play in the preseason. Leonard's feedback will be followed by the team.
Frank said that you can't predict an injury. We'll see how he feels each day, but he wants to do everything. The medical team is outstanding, and we're playing with it. We don't know what he will do or he won't do.
Is that correct? Is that best for him? It might be one day. We will have to rethink the next day. We'll depend on the feedback from the medical team. It's too soon to make predictions. We have time before we have to go.
Frank said that Paul George's injured elbow is healed. George missed three months due to the injury, but came back for five games late in the season. He missed two play-in games because of health and safety protocols.
Frank said that his elbow is healthy. Paul has had a very productive off-season and his consistency of training has been off the charts. He is taking more and more of an ownership role. He had a lot to do with that.
The players worked out in San Diego and Santa Barbara. Wall, who joined the Clippers in the off-season, has been a constant presence in workouts. Reggie Jackson and the former All-Star will compete for the starting point guard position.
If the Clippers need to ramp Leonard back up at a cautious pace, their depth will help.
Frank said that Kawhi has done a lot of controlled basketball. 5-on-5 is seen as a benchmark but is more complicated than that. He keeps getting closer to being able to play in an NBA basketball game.
Frank said that they knew what the big picture was. We know what we want, and we will be careful and methodical.
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