Clippers ‘very disappointed’ Team USA replaced Kawhi Leonard

LAS VEGAS — LA Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said the team was “very disappointed” with USA Basketball’s decision to leave Kawhi Leonard off the Olympic team roster last week.

USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday that Leonard was not with the team. The Clippers and Team USA officials influenced the decision after observing the two-time Finals MVP’s behavior and play during USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas last week.

Frank said Leonard had no setbacks with his surgically repaired right knee. USA Basketball replaced Leonard’s roster spot with Boston’s Derrick White.

“No, it was USAB’s decision and I was honestly very disappointed with the decision,” Frank said. “Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play. I was there for the first two practices, he looked very good. He was a full participant in everything they did. I wasn’t there for the third practice, where they finally decided to go in a different direction (last Wednesday).

“I told them I really wish they would have given Kawhi more time.”

Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. He returned to play in Games 2 and 3 before losing the remaining three games of the first-round series to Dallas.

Frank was asked if Leonard had undergone any type of surgery or treatment on his right knee prior to the USA Basketball camp.

“I’m not going to go into the details of what happened,” Frank said. “I’ll just tell you he spent a lot of time preparing for this. He had some really solid progression. He looked good in training.”

Leonard said he was able to let his knee and the inflammation “turn around” in the two weeks leading up to USA Basketball camp. The day before USA Basketball announced that Leonard would not be continuing with the team, Leonard had said his knee was in “a neutral state.”

“He wouldn’t be there and we wouldn’t put him there if we weren’t confident he could go through the whole Olympic experience,” Frank said. “Now I get it from USAB’s perspective: Nobody has a crystal ball.”

Leonard has been unable to complete the past two postseasons due to right knee injuries. In 2023, he tore his right meniscus after the first two games of a five-game series with the Phoenix Suns, which L.A. eliminated in the first round.

Frank said Leonard is expected to be ready when the Clippers open training camp in October.

Frank also touched on the future of Russell Westbrook, who picked up his $4 million contract option in late June. Frank said he’s had conversations with Westbrook’s agent since Paul George left in free agency for Philadelphia. The Clippers often paired the two former Oklahoma City teammates and friends on the court together. But with George gone, Westbrook will likely play elsewhere next season as well.

“First of all, Russ is a great f—ing player,” Frank said. “Hall of Fame player. He’s unique in what he’s accomplished. Last year was a different role than he’s ever played, as a backup after we traded for James (Harden). Since he signed and PG left, we’ve been working with his agent to see where Russ fits best.

“But we have a lot of respect for Russ. He did a great job when he was here and we continue to work through his agent to see what the best next steps are.”

Frank said he has had conversations with the agents of P.J. Tucker and Bones Hyland, two Clippers who want to play more. Frank said if there is no path to play, the Clippers will work with both players to find another situation.

Frank also said he has spoken to Ivica Zubac and Terance Mann about possible extensions.