Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is "widely" expected to re-sign with the team in free agency this summer.

Sam Amick and John Hollinger of The Athletic reported Wednesday that both the Clippers and other teams within the NBA expect Leonard to stay put. The All-Star has a $36 million player option for the 2021-22 season but will likely opt out in favor of signing a long-term contract.

Paul George signed a four-year, $190 million extension with the Clippers in December.

While it's been seen as a foregone conclusion that Leonard and George will stay in Los Angeles, the fact that Kawhi is yet to sign an extension keeps the door for a departure slightly ajar.

Both Clippers stars have been open about their desire to return home to Southern California and their happiness in their current situation.

Perhaps the only thing that could separate the two stars would be another postseason failure. Leonard and George both took significant criticism after the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in last year's playoffs.

The Clippers are 34-18, good for the third seed in the Western Conference. Leonard bemoaned the team's lack of consistency when speaking with reporters last month:

"It's very concerning. [If] we want to have a chance at anything, you gotta be consistent. You know, that's what the great teams do, they're consistent. They have their nights when, you know, the energy's not there. But it's all about consistency, from teams to players to coaches. That's what makes a team great, players great, coaches great. A consistency of being, wanting to win, and doing pretty much the same habits of winning."

Regardless of Leonard's concerns, it appears he is in Los Angeles to stay. 

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George said he was impressed with the team debut of center DeMarcus Cousins, who scored seven points in eight minutes during Tuesday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

"He was great," George told reporters. "He's an All-Star. He's still one of the most skilled bigs in the league. He can finish, he rebounds. I thought you saw a little bit of everything from him tonight, and he showed he's still got a lot left to give."

Cousins signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers on Monday to provide frontcourt depth with fellow center Serge Ibaka currently sidelined by a back injury.

The 30-year-old University of Kentucky product is looking to re-establish himself as an impact player after injuries derailed his career. 

Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks across 48 appearances for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017-18 season before suffering a torn Achilles.

The four-time All-Star then suffered a torn quadriceps in the 2019 playoffs with the Golden State Warriors and a torn ACL before getting a chance to play a game with the Los Angeles Lakers after signing ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

He joined the Houston Rockets in December but played a limited role before getting waived in late February.

The longtime Sacramento Kings standout should have an opportunity to earn a more expansive role with the Clippers once he gets up to full speed with the team's system, and he explained after his brief cameo against the Blazers he's physically ready for whatever is thrown his way.

"I've put an incredible amount of work to get to this place," Cousins told reporters. "I feel great, my body feels great. I'm in probably the best shape I've been in my entire career. At this point, it's about going out there and just putting everything together and just trying to continue to show that I'm healthy and I'm here to play this game at a high level."

He added joining a team with two established stars in George and Kawhi Leonard lays the foundation for success.

"Obviously they have a two-headed snake in Kawhi and PG," Cousins said. "And obviously everybody else's job is to make their job easy. I think this is probably one of the most complete teams in the league. I just bring whatever I can to help this team and elevate it. I don't really see this team lacking much."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lvqKhyG1sw?

The Clippers are busy in the coming days with games against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, Rockets on Friday and Detroit Pistons on Sunday to finish their nine-game homestand.

Cousins' minutes should gradually increase, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him signed to a second 10-day contract and eventually a full-time deal if Ibaka remains out of the lineup.

Rajon Rondo made his Los Angeles Clippers debut on Sunday, and his new teammate Paul George has already determined the role that the veteran will play on the team.

"I look at him as a leader in this group...he holds a lot of weight," George said, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.  "He'll hold us accountable. That is what you need, somebody who says what needs to be said." 

Rondo scored two points with three assists, two steals and a rebound in 13 minutes off the bench on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he won a championship with last season. 

Rondo, who was acquired by the Clippers in a trade deadline day deal that sent Lou Williams to the Atlanta Hawks, told ESPN's Rachel Nichols that he had high expectations for his new team moving forward.

"Championship. ... What I love is having that pressure, it’s either championship or bust."

—@RajonRondo on what the ceiling is for the Clippers this season

(via @Rachel__Nichols) pic.twitter.com/FAp9cv4rjG

— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2021

The four-time All-Defensive team selection's debut with the Clippers was delayed as he recovered from an adductor injury, but he is now seeking his third NBA championship and second in as many seasons, having also won the title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. He was a four-time All-Star with the Celtics from 2009 to '13. 

After his Lakers championship, he joined the Hawks in free agency. The 35-year-old averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 assists through 27 outings with Atlanta, where he primarily served as a backup to star Trae Young. 

George outlined exactly how Rondo can be used to push the Clippers toward the finish line:

Paul George on Rajon Rondo's impact: "I think we can reserve more energy. I relate it to the relationship I have with Russ, Russ created a lot of close out situations for me. It'll be the same thing with Rondo. Rondo can get to the middle of the paint, can make plays."

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) April 4, 2021

The 33-18 Clippers hold the third seed in the Western Conference as of Sunday evening, six games behind the leading Utah Jazz and two-and-a-half behind the Phoenix Suns. 

Veteran center DeMarcus Cousins is signing a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN noted Cousins needs to test negative for COVID-19 six times before he'll be cleared to exit the NBA's health and safety protocols. The four-time All-Star should be cleared by Monday barring any setbacks.

ESPN's Bobby Marks noted how the timing would benefit the Clippers:

The Clippers have to meet the roster requirement of 14 players by Monday.

They currently have 13 (not including 2 Way players).

Monday is 2 weeks since Mfiondu Kabengele was traded to Sacramento. https://t.co/FbHbhLoVPj

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 4, 2021

Cousins averaged 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25 appearances for the Houston Rockets. He struggled offensively, though, shooting 37.6 percent from the field. That was due partially to the fact that more than half (55.2 percent) of his field goals came from beyond the arc, per Basketball Reference, and he hit 33.6 percent of his long-range jumpers.

Between rupturing his Achilles tendon and tearing his ACL, the 30-year-old is no longer the athletic big man he was during his best years with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

The current version of Cousins is still serviceable in a reserve role, and the Clippers already have Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac as options at the 5. A back injury has sidelined Ibaka, thus opening a spot for Cousins to occupy a meaningful role for the time being.

This move ultimately doesn't carry a ton of downside for Los Angeles, which is loading up for the stretch run and postseason. The Clippers don't need Cousins to be a big difference-maker, so it will be an added bonus if he immediately meshes with his new teammates and makes a positive impact on the court.

Rajon Rondo and the Los Angeles Clippers have their eyes set on a championship this season. 

Speaking to ESPN's Rachel Nichols, Rondo—who was acquired by the Clippers at the trade deadline—said the team has the ultimate ceiling for 2021. 

"Championship. ... What I love is having that pressure, it’s either championship or bust."

—@RajonRondo on what the ceiling is for the Clippers this season

(via @Rachel__Nichols) pic.twitter.com/FAp9cv4rjG

— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2021

The 32-18 Clippers are currently the third seed in the Western Conference, six-and-a-half games behind the first-place Utah Jazz and three back from the Phoenix Suns. 

   

If the Clippers were able to run all the way to a title, it would be Rondo's second in as many seasons. He appeared in 48 games for the Lakers in a backup role en route to a championship last season.

"It is a rivalry here in Los Angeles. But for the most part, I have been getting a bunch of 'welcome back's. It is different coming back to L.A. being a champion," he said (h/t ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk).

The four-time All-Defensive team selection also won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008. 

He signed with the Atlanta Hawks in free agency leading into the 2020-21 campaign. The 35-year-old—a four-time All-Star with Boston from 2009-13—averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 assists through his 27 appearances with the Hawks this season, where he primarily filled in behind Trae Young.

Rondo hasn't played with his new team yet as he recovers from an adductor injury.

In the latest battle for Los Angeles, the Clippers topped the Lakers 104-86 on Sunday at Staples Center to end their two-game losing streak.

The Clippers have now won both of their meetings against the reigning NBA champions this season. They entered this game third in the Western Conference standings and three games behind the Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division standings.

The Lakers played Sunday short-handed, with Andre Drummond out due to a toe injury. LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain out of action with injuries. The Lakers were playing better recently with three wins in their previous four games after losing four straight.

The Clippers took control right out of the gate by making their first seven field-goal attempts.

Marcus Morris Sr. continues to be a driving force for head coach Tyronn Lue. He finished with a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Paul George added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

The Lakers couldn't get anything going on offense. They were held to a season-low 86 points on 40 percent shooting from the field.

     

Notable Game Stats

• Marcus Morris Sr. (LAC): 22 points (9-13 FG), 7 rebounds
• Paul George (LAC): 16 points (6-14 FG), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 19 points (8-15 FG), 10 rebounds, 8 assists
• Marc Gasol (LAL): 11 points (4-7 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists
• Kyle Kuzma (LAL): 6 points (2-10 FG), 7 rebounds
• Montrezl Harrell (LAL): 19 points (7-12 FG), 6 rebounds

     

Morris, Depth Shine in Clippers' Win

On a team that features Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, it seems that Marcus Morris Sr. is crucial to tracing the Clippers' success.

For instance, including Sunday's game, Los Angeles has won its last eight games in which Morris has scored at least 13 points. It is 3-8 in the past 11 games when he's been held to 12 points or fewer.

One key reason for Morris' success has been his three-point shooting. He entered Sunday making a career-high 46.2 percent of his attempts behind the arc and improved that average by going 4-of-5 against the Lakers.

When Marcus Morris agreed to his 4-year, $64 million deal, folks immediately laughed at the signing.

He’s now 95-of-203 from deep this season (46.8%)

Shooting is not cheap. He’s worth it for the Clippers.

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 4, 2021

Locked in.@MookMorris2 leadin' the way with 17 points in the first half. pic.twitter.com/j0zptALjD2

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 4, 2021

Leonard and George didn't play their best game of the season. They combined for 35 points on an efficient 14-of-29 shooting and were plus-36 together.

Sunday's game was also a showcase for the amount of depth the Clippers can throw at their opponents. All five starters were at least plus-15.

Big fella droppin' dimes.@ivicazubac ➡️ @kawhileonard pic.twitter.com/ShG1Azyqv4

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 4, 2021

Lue used five players off the bench for at least six minutes. Rajon Rondo made his debut for the team but was largely a non-factor with three assists and two steals in 13 minutes.

Coming off consecutive losses to the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets, the Clippers needed to get back on track against a vulnerable opponent. They took care of business with little trouble, as they look to close the gap on the Suns in the Pacific Division standings.

     

Kuzma's Rough Game Raises More Lakers' Questions

If there's been one encouraging sign for the Lakers over the past three games, it was the performance of Kuzma. The 25-year-old averaged 22.3 points during that stretch and was playing quality defense.

Kuzma's best game of the season came in Friday's 115-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. He dropped 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists.

https://twitter.com/hmfaigen/status/1378203238076313603

Kyle Kuzma on doing a good job on Buddy Hield: "I take pride on the defensive end going back to last season. ... I'm slowing becoming an all-around player."

— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) April 3, 2021

With Davis and James unavailable, Kuzma's scoring output has significantly increased since the start of March:

https://twitter.com/LAL2021_Champs/status/1378801361400201218

Whether it was because of fatigue from a quick turnaround, playing against a better opponent or a combination of both, Kuzma looked completely off his game from the jump Sunday.

He had just three points through the first two quarters, air-balled a free throw late in the first quarter and was minus-19 in the first half alone.

Kuzma was far from the only problem the Lakers had Sunday. They shot 37.5 percent in the first half and made just seven of their 23 three-point attempts overall.

They didn't have more than 20 points in a quarter until the fourth.

Rondo looking at the Lakers bench pic.twitter.com/3E8EH5KGdW

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 4, 2021

It's hard to properly evaluate the Lakers at this point in the season, but this was certainly a disconcerting performance given their current lack of depth.

They are in danger of falling down to the sixth seed as soon as this week, depending on how the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers play.

Los Angeles currently has a two-game advantage over the Dallas Mavericks in the loss column for the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

As long as James and Davis are back at full strength before the postseason, the Lakers have earned the right to be considered the favorite. But their path becomes more difficult if they have to go through the play-in tournament.

     

What's Next? 

The Lakers' road trip will continue Tuesday when they take on the Toronto Raptors at  Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The Clippers will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said Saturday that veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is "on schedule" to make his Clippers debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.

The 35-year-old Rondo has not played since March 22 because of an adductor injury. Since then, the Clippers acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that sent guard Lou Williams and two second-round picks to Atlanta.

If Rondo does play Sunday, he will be competing against a Lakers team he helped guide to an NBA championship last season.

Rondo is a four-time All-Star, four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection and three-time NBA assist champion, but he has been more of a role player in recent years.

In 27 games with the Hawks this season, primarily as the backup to Trae Young, Rondo averaged a career-low 3.9 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per contest.

Last season, Rondo appeared in 48 games for the Lakers and averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds before putting up 8.9 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 boards per game during L.A.'s playoff run.

For his career, Rondo owns averages of 10.0 points, 8.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 900 regular-season games and has won two championships, which is likely the primary reason why the Clippers acquired him.

Youngmisuk noted that Lue said he does not expect Patrick Beverley to play Sunday, meaning Rondo could get plenty of run in his absence.

Reggie Jackson has been starting at point guard for the Clippers, and that figures to be the case again Sunday, but with no other true point guard on the roster besides Beverley, Rondo could be a key piece against his former team.

Sunday's game will be a significant one as the 32-18 Clippers are just a half-game ahead of the 31-18 Lakers for third place in the Western Conference.

The Lakers will once again be without their top two players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but they have still managed to win three of their past four games with Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma leading the way.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George said Thursday he's working with the team to determine whether they can prevent his toe injury from lingering for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.

"We are trying to figure it out now," George told reporters after the Clippers' 101-94 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "Honestly, we're trying to get on top of it now. Hasn't seemed to go away yet. But at this point it is just managing the soreness and swelling."

He added it's a "day-to-day process" that's led to a little improvement but not a complete recovery so far.

George returned from a two-game absence to play against the Nuggets. He struggled with his shot, hitting just five of his 15 attempts from the field, but finished with a solid stat line of 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGccqdHvg4Q

L.A. has been trying to juggle their lineup with several players sitting out recently with a variety of ailments. Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, Marcus Morris Sr., Rajon Rondo and Serge Ibaka are among the other rotation players to miss time.

The difficulty for the Clippers is trying to manage those injuries without sliding too far down the Western Conference standings. They are currently third with a 32-18 record, but that's only 1.5 games ahead of the sixth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.

Their lead over the seventh-placed Dallas Mavericks is a more comfortable five games, so the Clips are trending well to avoid the play-in tournament before the playoffs, but they can't afford any type of extended losing streak that could bring that possibility into play.

George, who previously missed seven games with the toe injury in February, said he doesn't expect anybody to feel bad for them as they navigate the injury issues:

"I mean, it's no pity party. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us because we have guys out. We got to find the way to get the job done, and I think we have been doing that up until the last two games before we had some slippage. ...

"Hopefully at some point we will have a full healthy team. For us, it is just building habits and creating an identity, which you always want to do. As well as we have played this year, the identity of this team, we are still trying to solidify that. At some point, we got to find who we are and stick to that as a team."

The condensed schedule also complicates the recovery process. The Clippers have two days between Thursday's loss to the Nuggets and Sunday's rivalry clash with the Los Angeles Lakers. They don't have another two-day break without games until April 24-25, a stretch that includes three back-to-backs.

L.A. would love to clinch a top-four seed in the West early to have time to rest George, Leonard and Co. before the postseason, but the closely contested nature of the conference might not make that possible.

So the team will likely give George some occasional nights off, likely in those back-to-back situations, with hope extra rest during the final six weeks of the regular season helps him get healthy for the playoff run.

The Los Angeles Clippers added some depth to the frontcourt with the reported signing of veteran Demarcus Cousins, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

Despite being a big-name acquisition, there are relatively low expectations for the 30-year-old who was waived by the Houston Rockets in February.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the team plans to use him as a No. 3 center behind Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka.

Here is how the latest addition shapes the depth chart for Los Angeles.

     

Clippers Full Strength Depth Chart

PG: Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, Reggie Jackson

SG: Paul George, Luke Kennard

SF: Kawhi Leonard, Terance Mann

PF: Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Patrick Patterson

C: Serge Ibaka, Ivica Zubac, DeMarcus Cousins

       

The short-term addition of Cousins will be especially valuable with Ibaka missing the past two weeks with a back injury.

Los Angeles hasn't missed him much with a 6-2 record without Ibaka, but Tuesday's loss to the Orlando Magic might have been a wake-up call after getting outrebounded and receiving little production from the bench.

Cousins isn't the same player who earned four-straight All-Star selections from 2015-18. Injuries have taken a toll on the big man's career, limiting him to just 30 games over the previous two seasons.

He still showed his skill set in 2020-21 with averages of 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in 25 appearances with Houston. It could provide the Clippers with another scoring option off the bench and some valuable balance from the frontcourt. 

When the team gets healthy, there will now be plenty of options for head coach Tyronn Lue:

Ty Lue says he’s had a lot of late nights wondering how his rotations will be when Pat Beverley, Serge Ibaka, Rajon Rondo are back. Lue has plenty of options with emergence of Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac all playing well during this last stretch.

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 31, 2021

Nicolas Batum and Marcus Morris can help stretch the floor from the power forward spot, regardless of which one is in the starting lineup. Zubac and Cousins could be useful against bigger lineups in the Western Conference.

If Cousins remains on the roster, he could be a valuable addition for a squad trying to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Veteran center DeMarcus Cousins is reportedly working toward a contract agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers after previously parting ways with the Houston Rockets.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported the signing, pending the clearance of the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted the sides are "discussing a 10-day contract," but a final decision isn't expected until next week.

Cousins began the year with the Rockets, averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game. He moved in and out of the starting lineup during the first two months of the season, but Houston decided to move on while going younger with Christian Wood in the frontcourt, per Charania.

Houston waived him Feb. 23.

The Rockets' fall to the bottom of the Western Conference standings likely spurred the decision to focus on the future.

It put Cousins on the move again after a whirlwind past few years for the 30-year-old.

The four-time All-Star was one of the best big men in the NBA from 2014 to 2018, thriving with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans. He was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 2017-18 before an Achilles injury ended his season and derailed his career.

Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors the next year but only appeared in 30 games before suffering a quad injury on the way to the NBA Finals. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 before tearing his ACL and missing the entire season.

Though his numbers in 2020-21 represent career lows in most categories, the ability to stay healthy remains encouraging.

The Clippers will hope this continues as he provides valuable depth and experience in the frontcourt for a team with high expectations. He'll compete with Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac for playing time when the roster is at full strength.

Even if he can't replicate his past production, Cousins can help on both ends of the court and could make this a scarier lineup for the stretch run.