Kawhi Leonard’s tenure with the Clippers hasn’t exactly gone as planned, as he’s battled injuries for much of his time in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it looks like it’ll be more of the same for the upcoming season.
Los Angeles hasn't announced anything yet, but according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Leonard will be "sidelined indefinitely to begin the NBA season as he rehabilitates from inflammation in his right knee."
The Clippers’ odds in various futures have tanked as Leonard’s injury situation has progressed. Los Angeles was +9000 to win the title and +4500 to win the Western Conference at BetMGM in mid-September. However, those odds have steadily decreased since Leonard announced at the team’s media day he’d be rehabbing his knee. They hit a new low Thursday after word broke he’d be sidelined indefinitely, as the Clippers are now +12500 to win the title and +6600 to win the West.
The Clippers’ regular season-win total is also sinking. It opened at 41.5 at BetMGM and was 37.5 on Wednesday. However, it's now off the board at BetMGM but is 35.5 at DraftKings.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ odds to make the playoffs were +210 and -275 to miss out at BetMGM before they pulled them off the board. They’re available at DraftKings, though, at +390 to make it and -550 to miss out.
Injuries are nothing new for Leonard as he’s played in only 179 games since arriving in Los Angeles. The six-time All-Star notably missed the entire 2021-22 campaign after tearing his right ACL. He missed the final eight games of the regular season and most of the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks a season ago because of inflammation in that surgically repaired knee.
Leonard’s absence is a blow to a Clippers team that looks quite different from last season. Paul George left Los Angeles to join the Philadelphia 76ers while Russell Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets. That means James Harden will have to do the heavy lifting alongside expected starters Norman Powell, Terance Mann, and Ivica Zubac.
