Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers do not appear willing to take on a significant financial commitment at this year's trade deadline.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Saturday that the Clippers are "reluctant" to take on any major financial burden and would rather wait before truly making a major monetary commitment to another star.

"The Clippers, according to league sources, are still keen on keeping their books clean, indicating to rival front offices that they are reluctant to bring back any long-term salary in any potential trade activity over the remaining 12 days of NBA Trade Season," Fischer wrote. "The Clippers appear to be setting themselves up to try to truly capitalize on owner Steve Ballmer's well-chronicled willingness to spend and the allure of their shiny new Intuit Dome home when Leonard's tenure concludes."

The Clippers are currently 25-19 and in sixth place in the Western Conference despite the departure of Paul George last offseason and forward Kawhi Leonard being limited to just six games thus far in 2024-25.

Standout guard Norman Powell leads the team with 23.7 points per game while guard James Harden has averaged 21.2 points, 8.2 assists and 5.9 rebounds. Harden could come off the books after the 2024-25 season while Leonard will be on the roster through 2026-27.

The Clippers currently have $4.8 million in first apron space and $15.6 million in second apron space. While they could use that wiggle room to add some depth at this year's deadline, any move figures to be a low-risk, low-cost push for a player on an expiring deal who would not bog down the team's long-term finances.

Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie, announced a donation of $15 million in emergency funding for Los Angeles wildfire relief, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

"We love L.A. and are committed to supporting the communities affected by the devastating wildfires," the couple said in the announcement.

"We understand there will be a long road to recovery for the LA region and remain committed to supporting the community," they added.

The donation covers four wildfire relief funds, two emergency shelters and temporary housing funds, two food and basic needs groups, two first responder support groups and nine groups that support basic needs for students and families (via ESPN).

The Clippers were among 12 professional sports teams from the Los Angeles area to pledge more than $8 million to help those in need after the wildfires.

The Ballmer Group is also behind FireAid, a benefit concert dedicated to rebuilding communities that have been devastated by wildfires. It will be held on Jan. 30 at Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced that they were donating $1 million for immediate relief to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations to support those affected by the fires.

The wildfires in Southern California have killed at least 27 people with 31 more reported missing, per CNN. The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres and 7,000 structures, while the Palisades Fire has burned more than 22,713 acres.

Over 170,000 people remained under evacuation notices as of Thursday.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is reportedly stepping away from the team to be with members of his family who were affected by the ongoing wildfires in the L.A. area.

NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news Wednesday, noting that some of Leonard's family was forced to evacuate because of the wildfires.

The Clippers are scheduled to face the Denver Nuggets on the road at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in the sports world, Wednesday night's NHL game between the host Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames was postponed:

The NFL released a statement Wednesday that said it "continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA" ahead of Monday's scheduled playoff game between the visiting Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters on Tuesday that members of his family were among those who evacuated their homes.

"I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now," Redick said. "That's where I live.

"Our family, my wife's family, my wife's twin sister, they've evacuated. I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family. From the sound of things, with the winds coming [Tuesday night], I know a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everybody stays safe."

According to CNN, tens of thousands of people were placed under evacuation orders across Los Angeles County due to multiple wildfires that were exacerbated by high winds. Officials said at least two people have died, while thousands of structures and acres have been destroyed.

As for Leonard, he returned to the Clippers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Atlanta Hawks and also played in Monday's contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He missed the team's first 34 games of the season because of a right knee injury.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to return from a knee injury on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Leonard has been out all season. The listed reason on the NBA injury report has been "right knee; injury recovery."

On Dec. 27, Leonard posted a cryptic video that seemed to indicate his return would come soon.

Law Murray of The Athletic then reported that the Clippers were targeting Jan. 4 at home against the Atlanta Hawks for Leonard's return to the court.

Right knee inflammation forced Leonard to miss the final eight regular-season games of the 2023-24 season as well as four of the Clippers' six first-round playoff games against the Dallas Mavericks.

Leonard suffered a torn right ACL in the 2021 postseason that forced him to sit all of 2021-22. He also suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. Thankfully, he was ready for the 2023-24 season opener.

Leonard is an immensely talented player with six All-Star recognitions, six All-NBA team honors, seven All-Defensive teams, two NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards to his name. He averaged 23.7 points on 52.5 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals last year. So obviously, the Clippers need him to have a chance at a championship run.

Without him, though, James Harden has still adeptly run the offense, with Norman Powell breaking out to lead the team in scoring.

The Los Angeles Clippers responded Thursday to a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former strength and conditioning coach Randy Shelton.

According to ESPN's Baxter Holmes, the Clippers' filing in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleged that Shelton "demanded that the Clippers pay him millions of dollars for the imagined wrongs asserted in his complaint," following his firing in July 2023.

Shelton alleged that the Clippers tampered with Kawhi Leonard before signing him in free agency in 2019, and that the organization mishandled Leonard's recovery from injuries.

Shelton worked for the San Diego State University basketball team when Leonard attended school there, and he later served in a similar role as part of the Clippers' performance team.

In his lawsuit, Shelton alleged that he was part of a "years-long recruiting campaign" to bring Leonard to L.A., which "leapt well beyond the bounds of the NBA constitution."

Shelton also called the Clippers' "mishandling" of Leonard's injury recovery "mind-blowing," and added: "The disregard for his recovery process is unacceptable."

The Clippers terminated Shelton in July 2023 and the organization said it continued to pay his salary until his contract ended in June 2024.

Shelton expressed his belief that the Clippers "diminished" his role with the team after he spoke up about the organization's handling of Leonard's health.

The Clippers denied the claim in their filing, writing:

"[Shelton] took it upon himself to render advice to those who had not sought it and that he was not qualified to give. For example, he recommended medical procedures, such as blood-flow restriction, without having any medical training, knowing the players' condition, or consulting with his supervisors or the team doctors. His unauthorized conduct disrupted relationships between the players, their trainers, and the team, and put the players' health and well-being at risk."

The Clippers added that the totality of Shelton's claims are "frivolous," stating: "There was no 'tampering' before the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers did not provide 'illegal treatment' to Mr. Leonard. And [Shelton] was not terminated in 'retaliation' for anything. The Court should not be fooled."

Leonard, 33, is in the midst of his sixth season with the Clippers, although he has yet to appear in a game this season as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

In all but one of his campaigns with the Clippers, Leonard has appeared in 57 or fewer regular-season games. That includes the 2021-22 season, which he missed in its entirety due to a torn ACL.

Back in January 2024, Leonard signed a three-year contract extension with the Clippers, putting him under team control through the 2026-27 season.

Leonard is progressing toward making his 2024-25 season debut, as he returned to practice three weeks ago.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry once again gave fans a duel for the ages as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day.

After another great matchup between the two all-time greats, James Harden reflected on the meeting and shared his thoughts on his generation's time in the league potentially coming to an end soon.

"Me and Steph was talking about that after the game as well. We love to hoop," Harden said. "It's just, Father Time is undefeated… I know LeBron probably feel the same way. We love the game of basketball… Now we just got little nagging injuries that when you're younger you probably just don't get… It's weird, but it's a part of life… I hope fans and people who enjoy and love the game of basketball can embrace and cherish these moments. Because once players like us are gone, we'll never see them again."

As has been the case for the last decade-plus, James and Curry brought their A-game on Wednesday. James finished with 31 points and 10 assists while Curry had 38 points and six assists.

Curry had two threes in the final 12 seconds to tie the game before Austin Reaves ultimately put the Lakers ahead by two with just over a second to play.

After the game, James was asked what the "good stuff that's still going on" in the NBA in 2024. He didn't shy away from mentioning his and Curry's battles as must-see TV.

Though Harden pointed out that "Father Time" is taking a toll on players of his generation, many are still playing at a high level. James, who will turn 40 this month, is putting up 23.5 points, nine assists and 7.9 rebounds this year. Curry is averaging 22.5 points and 6.5 assists. Harden has found new life on the Clippers this year, collecting 21.9 points, 8.1 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game.

There's no denying that James, Curry, Harden and other legends are nearing the end of their careers, but for now, fans can continue to enjoy the show. It won't be very hard if James and Curry continue to provide thrilling matchups.

Los Angeles Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard could be just a week away from making his return to the court.

The veteran wing is targeting Saturday, Jan. 4 against the Atlanta Hawks for his season debut, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Leonard returned to practice for the first time this season on Dec. 10 amid his recovery from inflammation in his right knee, but he was still not cleared for contact. ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported at the time that he "could return to game action within the next two weeks, barring any setbacks."

The ongoing knee issues also caused Leonard to withdraw from the Team USA roster for the Paris Olympics this past summer.

Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Leonard has missed 210 of a possible 467 games due to various injuries. A torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2021-22 campaign. His 68 games played in 2023-24 were his most since he played 74 games in 2016-17 when he was still with the San Antonio Spurs. However, he missed four out of six games in Los Angeles' first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

When healthy, Leonard is one of the best two-way players in all of basketball. The 33-year-old has won two NBA championships with the Spurs and Toronto Raptors and was named NBA Finals MVP both times. He earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards, seven All-Defensive selections, six All-Star selections and six All-NBA honors.

The Clippers rank seventh in the Western Conference with a 17-12 record, so getting Leonard back will boost their chances of competing for a playoff spot. Veteran guards James Harden and Norman Powell have steadied the ship in his absence, but he'll add another dimension to the team when he returns.

Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard seemed to indicate in a video posted on his X account Friday that his return from a knee injury could be on the horizon.

In the video, Leonard turns on the radio at one point, and an announcer states: "We've got exciting news coming out of Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard looks to be returning to the court pretty soon."

Two versions of Leonard then have a conversation with each other, and one of them says: "There's been good days, there's been bad days, but I keep coming back. It's the nature of the game."

The 33-year-old Leonard has yet to play this season due to a knee ailment that caused him to miss four of the Clippers six playoff games last season.

Leonard attempted to play for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris just a couple of months after the NBA season ended, but the decision was made to replace him with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

It was eventually announced that Leonard would not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, and concrete updates have been few and far between since then.

However, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported on Dec. 10 that Leonard practiced for the first time this season, and that he would potentially be able to return to game action within two weeks "barring any setbacks."

That timeline suggests Leonard could potentially return any day for a Clippers team that has exceeded expectations with a 17-13 record during his absence.

Leonard appeared in 68 games last season, which was his most since the 2016-17 campaign. From 2017-18 through 2022-23, he played in 60 or fewer games each year, including missing the entire 2021-22 season.

When healthy, Leonard is one of the best players in basketball, as evidenced by his six All-Star selections, two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP Awards.

Once Leonard returns, he will join forces with Norman Powell, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, all of whom are enjoying highly productive seasons.

With a healthy Leonard in the fold, the Clippers could suddenly become legitimate contenders to win the Western Conference and vie for their first NBA title.

The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly have trade interest in Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

"There have been whispers of the LA Clippers holding trade interest in Collin Sexton, sources said. The Clippers held interest in Sexton dating back to the 2018 NBA Draft when he was taken eighth overall ahead of Los Angeles' pick. PJ Tucker and Bones Hyland get this deal done financially, but the Utah Jazz want draft compensation for any of their talents, which is something the Clippers don't have. While the idea of adding Sexton sounds good, there are several barriers for LA to get through if they seriously want to pursue Sexton."

Sexton, who turns 26 on Jan. 4, has played seven NBA seasons, including his last three in Utah. He enters Friday averaging 16.8 points on 48.6 percent shooting (43.9 percent from three). Per Spotrac, he has two years remaining on a four-year, $70,950,000 deal.

The 6-20 Jazz, who are second-last in the Western Conference standings, would likely be better off trading Sexton with the team a long ways from competing for the playoffs. He's a talented scorer and guard who would be a great fit on a contender, perhaps off the bench.

Despite missing Kawhi Leonard as he continues to rehab his right knee, this year's Clippers team has fared quite well at 16-12, good enough for fifth in the Western Conference. Norman Powell in particular has enjoyed a breakout season, averaging a team-high 23.7 points per game. James Harden has also been a tremendous leader, posting 22.2 points, 8.3 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game.

The Clippers could use more scoring help and backcourt depth, though, so Sexton seems like a good fit. However, as Siegel noted, the Jazz want draft compensation, and that's something the Clippers are in short supply of moving forward.

So while there's interest, the Clippers may not be able to get it done. And other teams could assuredly be interested in Sexton as well.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard "could return to game action within the next two weeks, barring any setbacks," according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

The news comes as Leonard returned to practice Tuesday as he tries to work his way back from his knee injury, head coach Ty Lue told reporters:

Despite the positive development, Leonard has not been cleared for contact and will not return for Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The forward is yet to play in a game this season.

Injuries are a constant storyline surrounding Leonard at this point of his career, and it was no different at the start of the 2024-25 season. He started the campaign on the sidelines because of a knee injury, and ESPN's Shams Charania reported the expectation was he would miss "weeks" as he recovered from offseason surgery.

The Clippers star also withdrew from Team USA ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics amid his recovery.

The knee setback was all the more disappointing for Leonard since he was fairly durable in 2023-24 while appearing in 68 regular-season games. Yet he missed the majority of the team's first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks and is again dealing with ailments this season.

Leonard hasn't played more than 68 games since the 2016-17 season. He also missed the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign and played just nine games in 2017-18.

When healthy, he is one of the best players of his generation with a resume that includes two championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, six All-NBA selections, seven All-Defensive selections and six All-Star nods.

Los Angeles will continue to rely on James Harden as its go-to option while Leonard is sidelined, while Norman Powell also plays a key role.