(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers need to make a decision about their relationship with Kawhi Leonard.
The five-time All-Star and two-time champion is eligible for a four-year, $220 million contract extension.
But will the Clippers give it to him considering his vast history of missing games because of injuries?
WNBA star and basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike declared on “First Take” that they should definitely extend him.
Noting that when Leonard is healthy he is a “superstar,” Ogwumike said: “The Clippers have to extend Kawhi Leonard because this is the closest that the Clippers have been to contention.”
.@chiney wants the Clippers to extend Kawhi Leonard:
“The Clippers have to extend Kawhi Leonard because this is the closest that the Clippers have been to contention. … When healthy, Kawhi is a superstar.” pic.twitter.com/kE5R1p2OB7
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 8, 2023
She said that she is encouraged by a comment from head coach Ty Lue.
He said Leonard is getting healthy and on track to play much more next season.
She also added that the Clippers are set to open a state-of-the-art arena soon.
They simply cannot do that without Leonard on the roster, Ugwumike said.
Those are all fair points but some fans would take issue with the idea of LA putting up so much cash for more of Leonard.
The man hasn’t played more than 60 games in four seasons and the last time he played more than 70 was back in 2017.
Plus he missed all of 2021-22 due to an ACL injury.
Not to mention he doomed LA’s chances in the last postseason.
He was again forced out because of physical problems.
Ogwumike is right: when Leonard is fully healthy, he is a truly terrific player.
But he just isn’t healthy enough for all fans to support him earning more than $200 million over the next four years.
Ogwumike said she is trusting the process, Lue, and Leonard’s conditioning team to get him in shape all season long.
If they can pull that off and Leonard stays healthy, faithful followers will be much more comfortable with him sticking around.
But just one more injury to Leonard could make the pleas to cut him loose so much louder.
The post Analyst Urges Clippers To Extend Injury-Prone Star appeared first on The Cold Wire.