Kendrick Perkins criticized Kawhi Leonard, the two-time MVP of the NBA Finals, today. During Tuesday’s NBA Today broadcast on ESPN, Perkins blamed Leonard for the Clippers’ recent difficulties. Following Perkins’ suggestion earlier this month that Leonard should want to be traded out of Los Angeles following the death of Paul George, the remarks now follow.
According to rumors, Russell Westbrook is probably the next to depart, and Paul George has joined the Philadelphia 76ers, so Perkins thinks Steve Ballmer’s squad is in serious trouble. He clarified that if he were in the front office, he would think about dealing the player due to the precedent Kawhi Leonard has made for the Clippers organization.
In light of this, Perkins believes LA should take bold steps, beginning with a real discussion regarding Kawhi Leonard’s future with the organization.
He said, “I think Steve Ballmer, he needs to have an evaluation, right? You have Ty Lue. You just signed him to a contract extension. He’s there for the long haul. They have to really sit down and have a come to Jesus meeting and say, which direction are we going in?”
He further added, “And it’s damn sure not winning the championship. … Where are they going at this moment? Kawhi Leonard has set them back ten years, ever since he arrived and put on a Clipper uniform.”
Since joining the Clippers, the two-time NBA champion has only played 60 or more games once, despite showing glimpses of greatness when fit. The squad hasn’t made the deep postseason run that many had anticipated during that period, either.
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Clippers Have Been Trying to Build a Strong Roster Around Kawhi Leonard After the Paul George Trade
After the Clippers and George could not agree on a contract extension, the seasoned NBA player signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Russell Westbrook also signed a notable contract extension. But reports have persisted ever since that Westbrook would probably be dealt with before the season begins.
Kawhi Leonard only participated in two games during the 2023–24 playoffs. However, he was ready to represent Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Despite attending the team’s training camp, Leonard was left off the roster before Team USA’s Olympic warm-up games began.
According to sources at the time, the Clippers decided to focus on the next season in collaboration with Team USA. Time will tell if he can maintain his health long enough to help the club win a championship.
Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Top 5 Athletes Surprisingly Left Off Team USA
