(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Once again, the Los Angeles Clippers weren’t able to finish the job late in the season.
A lot of that had to do with the fact that Kawhi Leonard suffered yet another injury.
Now, the superstar forward is looking at some time on the shelf, and that puts his availability for the summer Olympics in jeopardy.
With that in mind, Team USA will have to look for a replacement, and while there are some big names available to play for the Americans, it seems like they’re going with a lesser-known option.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Boston Celtics veteran Derrick White is a legitimate option to take Leonard’s spot on the roster (via NBACentral).
Derrick White is a strong candidate to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA if Kawhi is unable to play, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/T8jVUMe6sK
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 15, 2024
White has been one of the best role players in the league this season, including the playoffs, and he would be a seamless fit for almost any team, being a plug-and-play, defensive-minded guy who can knock down some shots from the perimeter.
He’s also a liked and respected locker-room presence.
Nonetheless, with Team USA looking to assemble an Avengers-like kind of roster to overpower all opposition with their plethora of unmatched talent, their decision to go with White instead of a bigger-profile player could be kind of shocking.
Still, it’s not like he’s not deserving of this kind of consideration.
He spent plenty of time playing in Gregg Popovich’s FIBA-like system, and all teams need a 3-and-D guy who’s willing to put his body on the line on every single possession.
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