Kawhi Update from Lawrence Frank + Coach Lue Press Conference

I appreciate anyone joined the show here. Alex Webb says, what's good? Adam. La Murray would be one. He's out into a dome. He's got a picture of a microphone. Justin Russeau would be another. I know this is something media members were obviously aware of because they are there, and Jessin Bruzzo says Lawrence Franken Toron Lou We'll be speaking momentarily here, so I guess I'll keep the coverage going and keep you a breast of the situation as quotes come out from this press conference, and do a

little bit of dancing. JM. L or I thirteen twenty four. I yeah, it's definitely not a one. I'm still looking for clarification on that. As I know he's a fan. I'm a fan of his as well. I'm ot a Mosland. This is an impromptu Clippers talk live for you guys, because it's an impromptu press conference. For some didn't know this was happening today, but it looks like the media was alerted, the local media for the Clippers. They are

at into it Dome now. The timing of this is interesting because we have Media Day coming up next Monday, September thirtieth, and therefore I would have thought we would have got something then, and having something on a Tuesday right beforehand leads to questions. Those questions are hopefully going

to be answered here in a little bit. It's odd timing, yes, as alex Web would say, a week before media Day, not sure exactly what this is about, but hoping to get as Lawrence Frank now is here and here we go, La Murray of the and you. I'm pulling tweets from him, I'll pull some from Justin Russo as well, and we'll try to get a little bit of clarification on what's

going on here. I'm at a MASLM. We got a clipperstock live for you as we have a press conference with Lawrence Frank, your president of basketball operations and head coach tarn lou So. Now that I'm getting oriented with my space here on x AS, I'm pulling up tweets here from la Murray and Justin Rousseau, who are in attendance, Laurence Frank says, I think our defense is going to

be significantly improved due to the off season editions. I think there's a great deal of pride in our group and what we've done where we feel extremely fortunate, where we have the longest active streak of winning seasons thirteen straight winning seasons from your Los Angeles Clippers. That is the longest active streak. Of course, the San Antonio Spurs they have well a much longer streak at one point of over twenty plus years. Cla Murray has this from

Lawrence Frank. Kawhi Leonard's swelling is down. Will be limited to begin training camp, but Kawhi can't wait to get started. So there's your Kawhi Leonard update, something we've been talking about. Did a live with Grant Mota on Friday. After that erroneous report or whatever it was coming out of China. Didn't get a ton of information there. The swelling is down. According to Lawrence Frank, Kawhi Leonard's swelling is down, but will be limited to begin training camp. Kawhi cannot wait

to get started. That's big news justin Rousseau. As this quote from Lawrence Frank on Kawhi Leonard his right knee, the swing has significantly gone down. It's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work in training camp and work on strengthening. So I'm not sure if you guys see that as positive news or not. I know, we have a couple of people here in the chat.

Strado says, I'm scared. It looks like the way I'm interpreting this right now, maybe Lawrence Frank and head coach sharn Leu are just speaking with the media and getting this out of the way before Monday. That's how I'm seeing this, Lawrence Frank said. The encouraging thing is that the team and Kawhi Leonard have seen progress in Leonard's rehabilitation of knee inflammation. There has been progress from inflammation going back to April. Hmmm. Interesting swelling down is certainly

good news. I would have thought at this point, and who knows, not a doctor, that it would have been less of an issue. I am looking for a little bit more clarification on that. What we can do here is because I have the power, is bring in a shared screen for you guys from law Murray and give you this audio. But the problem is I won't be able to hear it at the same time from Lawrence Frank, I'm guessing it's just the audio portion of what I just played for you. So I'm just gonna keep reading

the quotes here from Justin Russo and La Murray. La Murray from the Athletic. Looking for an update here this is. I don't know if any other reporters are there right now, if it's just them too, but it is it into it. Don't kind of wish I was there to just check out the new setting in what's happening at press conferences. I know we walked by it when we got the into a dome tour myself, Chuck Mockler, Will Updyke, and

we got some people asking questions. Caleb berguson as we fill time here to look for more quotes coming out of this, Lawrence Frank press conference coach Lewis said to speak as well. Caleb Berguson asked, what's the ceiling sandywise for the Clippers. I don't know. Tell me how many games you think Kawhi Leonard is playing. I'll tell you what the ceiling is for this team. I think at this point it's staying out of the plane. That would

be the ultimate ceiling. Here, as I get this from La Murray, you said, Lawrence Frank is not committing to Kawhi Leonard being ready for the regular season opener, but expects him to have a great year. Hmmm, here's how I'm sorry to interpret this. The swelling, as has been said here, there's progress. Quote his right knee. The swelling has significantly gone down, significantly gone down, it's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work in

training camp and work on strengthening. So therefore, he probably can't commit to whether or not Kawhi Leonard is going to be available for the regular season opener because they don't know how he's going to respond to the strengthening of the knee and whatever drills he does go through during training camp. I have long talked to you guys about this situation, going back to April when I first heard about the swelling. As JM I thirteen twenty four says,

that's concerning. I think it's just one of those things where you're going to have to manage it here and the fact that it started in April, and really March thirty first was the last game he played before you started missing games. And it's still an ongoing issue where the swelling isn't completely down yet, but it is significantly down. It's obviously something that's still being managed. If we're talking about not doing or compete or being limited in training camp,

I want to quote this correctly. Is where Kawhi is still at heading into training camp just a week away or after media day on September thirtieth, they will be in Hawaii. He does say, Laurence frank Kawhi can't wait to get started. I don't know how you guys want to interpret this right now. I'd say it's not ideal,

it's not perfect. We would love to hear hiss one can participate in everything in training camp, but Laurence Frank on if Kawhi Leonard will be ready for opening Days said quote, the timing is all going to depend on how his knee responds to each phase. This is something I've been telling you guys going back to April when I said I'm not worried about him trying to go in a playoff game. It's how he responds after that. And after playing game two, his body didn't respond well.

I think he looked much worse in Game three. So not a doctor, not close to it, but I've tried my best to keep you guys informed on the situation. Big R sixty four says, I just feel terrible for Kawhi Leonard. If he has such a devastating player, it's just such a shame that they can't stay on the court. I'm with you, nobody wants to be out there more

than Kawhi. It's frustrating right now, it really is. This is somebody that is a top seventy five player ever and his body has been trade him last four seasons, hasn't been able to either start a playoff run or finish a playoff run. Another quote, coming from Lawrence Frank says that part of managing Kawhi Leonard is that he won't have to guard the best players with this roster.

We've talked about that a lot during the offseason. You bring in Derek Jones Jr. You bring in Chris Dunn, you have Terrence Man there, you have Nicholas batoombback, a lot of guys to guard out there. All Murray also said this. Lawrence Frank says that mentally, Kawhi Leonard is encouraged that he is trending in the right direction. Yeah,

I'm a little bit. I just would have thought by now the swelling had gone down enough if we're talking about him possibly playing for Team USA, and maybe that's why they didn't feel comfortable Kawhi Leonard had the quote out there. Knee was in a neutral state at that time. I don't know, but I would have thought when he came into camp for Team USA and said he had

a turning point two weeks beforehand. So we're talking about, I want to say, late June, early July, that if he was trying to go then that we'd be a little bit further along. But Jessin Rousseau is putting this out from Lawrence Frank says that he's still disappointed that Team USA didn't give Kawhi Leonard a longer runway during that specific training camp after Kawhi Leonard had been cleared medically. Okay,

cleared medically is something new. Lawrence Frank point out that other players on the roster that are dealing with minor or minor injuries. That there are other players on the roster that are dealing with minor or minor injuries and they'll be assessed a head of training camp with the Clippers. Updates will be provided when applicable. Frank stated he would not name the players at this present time, so am not a ton of clarity here. Here's what we know

so far. Kawhi has significantly improved when it comes to swelling in that right knee, there is significantly and let me quote it exactly his right knee. The swelling has significantly gone down. It's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work in training camp and work on strengthening. That is what we have released so far from this presser with Lawrence Frank, and we believe coach Taran lu will be available here in just a few moments.

Kayla Bergerson says, I wish though that La the La Clippers could get Raptors version of Kawhi Leonard. Well, to be fair, they've gotten a better version of Kawhi Leonard. He was better than he had ever been in twenty

twenty one through the first round and a half. They just can't get a guy who's been able to stay as healthy as Kawhi did when he played sixty teams in the regular season with Toronto and then ended up completing the playoff run through the finals and winning the championship and having and holding finals MVP JJ the Boy said, disappointed about what the inflemation wasn't fully down yet. Why risk it? Why risk what you're saying with Team USA. I think that's a fair point. Big R sixty four.

He says, they have to really load manage him well this year. I agree with you, especially after hearing this news. It's significantly down, but he's still not going to be able to participate in everything during training camp. Here's something new. This comes from Justin Russell. Lawrence Frank says that they've had ongoing discussions with Terrence Man on an extension. Frank reiterated that they want Man to be with the Clippers for a long time. Quote, We're hopeful we can get

a deal done. Frank says that has been one of the themes this summer. We already saw if it's a Zubats he got his extension. So what's happening right now with Terrence Mann. They're hopeful to get a deal done. This comes from Lot Murray, Trent and Flowers and that wrist surgery will not be going through training camp. He's on a two way deal. Lawnce Frank says there's also other minor injuries on the roster again, won't disclose names for now. Launce Frank on James Harden said, the pecking

order will be pretty clear this year. Okay, makes sense. He's one of the top two players on the team. There's not going to be an issue between who's number two with him and Paul George so As, I'm still reading through these tweets from Justin and Russo and La Murray As. There's a press conference going on right now with Lawrence Frank. The news so far it was about Kawhi Leonard and getting an update on that right knee. Again. The status and the quote from Lawrence Frank was this

his right knee. The swelling has significantly gone down. It's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work in training camp and work on strengthening. I'm a little bit surprised that it isn't fully gone by now. I think it's just going to be difficult to manage. Guys. I gotta be honest with you. We're talking about April. It's September twenty fourth now, that's a significant chunk of time, and the swelling isn't fully down yet. Not trying to

raise alarm. Bell is just trying to be realistic with it, Just trying to be honest. I wasn't sure at this point that we'd still be here when we're talking about his knee being somewhat swollen, but significantly less than it was. That is important. That is a note, and that's the most important thing coming out of this so far. Lawrence Frank says regarding Terrence Man, he won't be a slow starter this year. He expects him to shoot more threes and rebound better for his position. I like that We've

talked about it. Terrence Man, notoriously the last two seasons now has gotten off to very slow starts shooting wise from the outside. He was coming off the ankle injury last season that occurred in practice, I think right before training camp, and then he was shooting about twenty percent until the calendar flipped, and in twenty twenty four Terrence Man shot forty four from the outside and then shot forty five percent in that series against the Dallas Mavericks.

You're listening to a clipperstock live. I'm out of Moslems. We can still take your questions here. Charles Gardner says, sorry, I can't believe Frank when it comes to Kawhi. I do I believe what he's saying. The problem is, Charles, nobody can know how his knee is going to respond once they ramp things up. This has been my concern the entire time. What happens when he plays five on five?

Then where is it at? Why not? The Clippers says, I truly hate how they aren't transparent with us just banking on the Kawhi name to have us buy these expensive tickets. I think they're being as transparent as possible. This is what they know about his knee right now. No one has a crystal ball of how his knees going to respond once you get back to playing in an NBA game at the highest level. Guys, no one

could know that. His doctors can't know that. Kawhi can't know that, So how can the Clippers and Lawrence Frank know that. I'm just being honest with you. I think that's fair. You want them to predict the future, they can't. He's telling us the swelling is significantly down. I'm not sure what else you can really get at this point, because it's Kawhi, because it's the reconstructed right knee from the ACL on the meniscus, and because of what just

happened in April. Lawrence Frank says that you never want to put a ceiling on a team. Confirms that he has internet access and has seen Vegas expectations for the Clippers. Believes in Kawhi, Leonard and James Harden leading the team and the opportunity for the rest of them. Okay, L Frank says, compete. You want to be a competitive team, Well, you need competitive guys to do so. I love that. That's what it means to be a Clipper. That's what we have seen for some time now, and that's been

the makeup of this team. When the ships have been down, they played some of their best basketball when their backs were against the Wall, they played some of their best basketball. The twenty one to twenty two team. That team ended up with a winning record, even though they didn't have Kawhi the entire year and Paul George only played thirty one games. The twenty eighteen to twenty nineteen team before

the two Pine three era, that team overachieved. Co Lemerick says, I think the big question is is the swelling significant less from last April, or from last week or from after he left tm USA. Well, I think it's obvious that it's less than from April. If the quote is, I'll keep reading it because I don't want to misquote Laurence frank Here his right knee. Here's the quote. His right knee. The swelling has significantly gone down. It's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work and

training camp and work on strengthening. There's the quote. So almost gone is pretty far away from where it was in April. Guys, I don't know how you can interpret that an the other way. Frankie boy nine says, So if his knee is not one hundred percent, why the Clippers wanted to play him for Team USA. Kauwa I wanted to play for tem Usa, and the Clippers supported

that decision. Kawhi felt good enough. Kawi said right as Team USA camp was underway that there was a turning point two weeks beforehand before getting the camp with that knee, and that's why I think he joined Team USA. He felt like he could compete. We saw tape of him playing five on five and scrimmaging. He looked solid. Other players said he looked good. The coaching staff said he looked good, and then they sent him home. So that's still perplexing. I know now that you're hearing the swelling

isn't all the way down. Maybe they thought it was that a manageable enough place where for playing a few minutes here and there on Temusa you wouldn't be risking, exacerbating or worshiping the injury. I don't know. It doesn't look like that question was posed or pressed to Laurence Frank. Here we're expecting coach Luther talk as well. Here's Lot Murray saying when Kawhi is healthy, he wants to play.

That's a quote from Lawrence Frank. Laurence Frank says the team wants Kawhi to get to one hundred percent, and then any management plan that consists of back to backs will be determined from there. So rightfully, so before you start talking about how to load manage him or manage his health best during the season, he first has to get back to one. So clearly he's not there yet. Maybe that's where Temsa was coming from. They want everybody

to be at I don't know. It's really, as we like to say on clips and dip reading tea leaves again, Lawrence Frank had a quote regarding if the Clippers' roster as a championship or has championship aspirations. He said quote, I'll never put a ceiling on a team. I'm not naive. I have the Internet. I know what Vegas is saying about us, So we're honest about ourselves. Okay, JJ the boy says his knee probably swelled up again after the

five on five scrimmages. Well, let's just conjecture and speculation. We don't know that. The quote is it's almost gone. Stratos says this. I'm hoping this is just early liad management. So he isn't stressing his knee during camp and pre season. I would guess You're gonna be overly cautious right now in training camp for a guy who's thirty three years of age, is a vet, has been through this multiple times.

Air on the side of caution. If the swelling isn't completely down, air on the side of caution and work him along slowly. Orange Frank would not commit to whether or not Kawhi would be available for opening night yet, because they have to see how his knee responds with whatever strengthening they do during training camp. If he's not participating in some of the drills, that sounds like the case. Okay, let's see how he responds to some of the one

on one training and strengthening conditioning he does. Jbo's eighty four says, swelling for five months, Kawhi's career is over. Well, that is just sky is falling, chicken little type stuff. Jabo's this is not the way. Do I have concerns about the knee. Yes, I've told told you guys this four or five months. I told you guys this on Friday after the podcast I ended up doing with Grant Mona because of a tweet that was coming out from

China and it was freaking everybody out. My concern is, just like I said on Friday, it's turned into an overused thing because this time it didn't seem to be one tweak that inflamed his knee or got the inflammation and swelling in there in soreness. It was he played sixty eight games and then I guess over time it built up. I don't know. We really didn't get anything concrete on that end, but it didn't sound like it was one movement against the Charlotte Hornets that unfortunately caused

the swelling. So I don't know if that's a wear and tear thing. I don't know if that's okay. This is still just his second year back from the ACL and then first year back from the meniscus, and it just was too much playing sixty eight games last season and kawhisney hit the wall. I don't know. Here's fresh saying, not sure Low's sources close to Kawhi or trustworthy. Well, right now, his sources, Lawrence Frank talking to them right now into a dome. So it's straight from the horse's mouth.

He's pulling this from Laurence Frank talking about the swelling being almost gone. Lawrence Frank also said this regarding the Western Conference quote, the West is a beast. Think about how thin the margins are. We were fourth. Difference between fourth and tenth was five games. Lawrence Frank was asked about power forwards. Lawrence Frank apparently doesn't categorize it by using the number four. He mentions he believes in a point guard, a big and three wings. I like that,

but also mentioned the following players Kawhi, Niko Kobe, Derek Jones, PJ. Tucker, Emir and T. Mann. Also said that he wants better rebounding. So that's how he looks at the situation with power forwards. The starting four, it's gonna be Kawhi Leonard. It looks like once again it's become a positionless league. I totally understand his mindset and philosophy. There so many teams are going smaller, but they need to be better on the boards. This comes from JJ the boy. That's what's so frustrating

with his injury. We don't know much at all how it happened. It feels like some witchcraft stuff man with some real bad ju ju. Maybe because Kawhi doesn't know what happened. I talked about the Charlotte game afterwards and was mentioning how good he looked in that game. Movement wise, he looked great. It was one of the more more explosive games he had. He was blowing by Miles Bridges, he was getting to the basket, and then he doesn't play the next game and apparently there was knee soreness

and then it turned into swelling. You're asking to know Kawhi Leonard's body better than he does, that's what you're asking. It doesn't make sense, guys, they can't know everything. Kawhi. I don't know if he has a read on it. This is I understand the transparency stuff. I think they're trying the best they can, but considering there's still some swelling but significantly less and it's almost gone. I don't

know what more you would like them to report. I just it's really difficult with a player like Kawhi, with the injuries he's been through to prognosticate with any player, but especially with Kawhi when it comes to injuries and where his body's at. Jay Bo's Edy four says, I'm scared holding me at him. Look at least we know now going into training camp how this is going to go the way they're going to try to manage him, at least during training camp. He will be limited to

begin training camp, but the swelling is significantly down. You would not throw him right back into the fire into five on five. I would guess until he ramps up slowly and checks some more boxes. So they're holding him back from drill work and training camp. He's gonna work on strengthening. That's what we know, guys. I know it's not ideal. You would have loved to just hear Kauhi's one hundred percent ready to go camp, participate in everything. I wish that was coming out today too. This is

them being transparency, being transparent. They're not necessarily just telling you what you want to hear. They're telling you what's going on. Frankie Boy nine says, I feel like we're gonna see twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen hard year Harden will carry us to the Western Conference finals. Call me crazy, but it could happen. Harden's thirty five. Now, I don't think that's realistic at all. I think Harden could be

very good. I think he can get them to have a top ten offense still, if the defense is much improved. Great that they're in business. I believe the defense is gonna be much better than seventeenth. They have to be top eight on that end. To me, why not? The Clippers says, we have to stop stressing at him. Lol, We're sorry, Adam, We're just ready for basketball. Kai no Kawhi take me to into it. Yeah, obviously he's injury prone and has been unreliable as a Clipper. He's been

snake bit by injuries. Nobody's more frustrated than Kawhi about this guy's Kawhi is a killer out there piece, an all timer. If he could play, if he was healthy enough to play, if they would let him play, because you got to protect player from themselves at times. I know Kauai wanted to play more against Dallas. I know he wanted to play more against Potix. But you can't let a guy do that after all the injuries he's had.

It's often not up to the player. NBA talks says, need KPg to start, or let's just play big like the Calves. They don't have the personnel for that. In KPJ. The chances of him starting are minute are extremely small. Guys, Let's be realistic. He hasn't played basketball since April of twenty twenty three. He's being investigated by the NBA. He could still be suspended him. It's starting shooting guard and that Reddit post is wild. Maybe it was from NBA Talks.

Gregarius One says, the way load managing has gone, I would be more concerned with how ready he will be later the season than how ready he will be opening the season. Well, they've left no stone unturned. They've tried everything so far with Kawhi outside of just waiting till March to play him. But you can't wait till March and say just save him for the playoffs. They wouldn't make the playoffs in the West if you wait that long. I don't think they would be flirting with being out

of the play in if that was the case. So the team, guys, they're trying everything they can to handle this the right way. They really are. JJ the Boys says, I ain't blaming Kawhi. I just feel bad. All I can do is pray for his health throughout the season. As for Cup half fool perspective, at least the swelling is down and not worse, making progress that's important. Now. I don't know how much he's tested it. That's my question.

How much rigorous training has he done? And I'll say this, it was reported by Kelly Johnson at opening night of Into a Dome on the red carpet, she talked with Mobamba. Mobamba and Kahi are boys and have been for a while, and he went down and traded in San Diego with Kawhi and talked about how tough the training regiment was.

That's encouraging to me. So if that's the case and it's almost gone, even while training that knee, even while doing hard stuff, even while doing maybe most of the usual off season training stuff he does, that would be very encouraging. NBA Talk says, let's trade everyone for SGA. Lol, dude, just lose my number or whatever. Like this is not helpful, This is not productive. Frankie Boy nine says, changing topics. The part when an interview with Ralph Lawler was amazing.

Can't wait for part two. I appreciate everybody for checking that out. Worked hard on it. My director Chris Graham, like, I'm just there asking questions. He made it look good, Ralph made it sound good. But I'm proud of it. I hope you guys, enjoy Part one. It's up now. Put it up yesterday on the YouTube side called it Clippers Talk All that, All Access Part one with Ralph Lawler. So enjoy that and maybe we'll get better news. This

training camp goes along. Here, let me check in with la Murray and see if Coach Lou has come to the podium yet here. Yes, he has Coach Lou is here. So this is basically a pre media day bonus with coach Liu and Laurence Frank. I don't know if that means they will still be speaking next Monday or not. Some quotes coming out from coach Lou. He says that last year's training camp set the tone for the entire season in terms of conditioning and how hard they needed

to play. Now they have to do it without Russ. Well, they played hard times for sure. They also ended up being seventeenth defensively when they said a training camp the goal was to be top five. Coach Lou said this on Harden and his responsibility more picking rolls. Good run them, it's easy offense, it's easy money. Coach Lou says that there will be competition for starting jobs. This is interesting. This is something this is the development, guys, a competition

for starting jobs. We've been thinking the entire time that it's going to be most likely James Harden, Tarent Man, Derek Jones, Junior, Kawhi Leonard and it beats the Zubos. Hmmm. So is Norman Powell in the mix to be a starter. Are he and Terrence Man competing for that spot? Or this is a question I posed recently. Not many have

talked about it. Is it possible Niko Batoum starts at the four, which puts Kawhi the three, which then leads to a competition between Derek Jones, Junior, Terrence Man, and Norman Powell for the starting two spot. That would be interesting. Hmmm, now that got me thinking. JJ the Boys says Zubots needs to be on rocky level montage prep for this off season. That's pretty good Zubos with the long hair. It's Chuck Mockler and Will Eepdik would say long haired

zoo Bots would be a bucket. So more from coach lou coming out, and I got Justin Russo and Law Murray up both their Twitter accounts and just reading those at this media press conference or local media press conference with the Clippers. Here's more on what I just spoke about. Justin Russo phrased it as this. Tron Lu said that there will be a competition from some starting positions, and he wants the team to play faster, get more threes up,

and generally take better shots. Starting positions is plural, multiple spots. Hmm, okay, let's go over this. Harden, Zoo and Kawhi their locks right. The other two spots the two and the three or the two and the four, depending on where you're putting Kawhi. If Nico Batoum starts, then Kawhi can slide down and play the three spot. Remember Kawai said last season he'll play the four till they get a real one. Okay, they got Nico Batum back. I don't know, this is interesting.

JM I thirteen twenty four asks what do you think about Chris Dunn and djj is starting to help your point of attack defense? What do you think Chris Dunn's going to start over James Harden. You're saying start James next to Chris Dunn, next to Derek Jones, Junior Kawhi and zubats So. No. Terrence Man No, Powell. I don't know. I'm open to competition in camp. I like that idea. I'm all for that. I want guys iron sharpening iron out there. Let's see if we got anything more from

coach Lou. Yes, we do. Regarding his new extension, he stated that he was happy to get a new deal with the Clippers this offseason quote fully guaranteed five year deal. Lou joked that he can leave things in the arena now rather than have to take things home because they own into a dome. Man broadcasters gonna do that too. Do we get little cubby holes or lockers there? I don't know. Toiran Lou says that he won Jeff van

Gundy on his Cleveland staff. We learned that from the article from om Young Masuk, who came out with me last week. Here's what Coach Lou put as the criteria for the guard playing next to James Harden. Defend, make open shots. Quote team Man has been great. We got to see how it plays out. So Terrence Man, he's got to re earn that starting job. That's interesting. I'm not shocked by it. If Terrence Man does what he

did after the calendar turned into twenty twenty four. I think he'll be okay, but he can't turn down shots from three. He's got to put him up and his defense has to be where it was against Luka Doncic in the playoffs to start the year. He was so much better in that playoff series then he had been all season long. Defensively, he had been all right, but I don't think he was fully locked in. Terrence Man and the starting two job or starting two guard job

is up in the air right now. Guys, here's big a R sixty four. How are we going to score enough points? That's what I'm worried about. A system. James Harden didn't say the system. I'm the system. He said, I'm a system, not a system player. I'm a system. That's how high pick and roll James Harden guys. The last twelve years, the worst a James Harden offense has ever ranked was twelfth on average. Their fifth multiple years they were first, get Zobots involved, get Kawhi cooking, and

get their other two guys open threes. I believe in a system with James Harden. Jackson snow says, they've been telling Man to prove himself for the past four years. It's a fair point. I think it's a familiar role that Terrence Man is in right now, having to earn it, having to prove himself. I hope he does, But I don't know who it is that's pushing him most. Between Chris Dunn and Norman Powell. It's not Kevin Porter Junior. Guys, it's not. But it's one of those two guys. How

they both are. Maybe they said, Chris Dunn, you come here, you have a chance to earn the starting two guard spot. I mean it could also be are they thinking Derek Jones Jr. Can just play the starting too, because they might have Kawhi the three, because Nicholas but two might be playing the four to start. I don't know. We got a lot to talk about now. This is getting interesting. JJ the Boyce says's kind of hard to prove yourself or your role constantly changes and has to play off

of four Hall of famers. Well, I mean, last season, would he end up starting Terrence Man sixty games? Seems like a big enough sample size, And to be honest, he ended up shooting We started seventy one games last season, Guys, he shot thirty five percent from three now again, the last fifty games or so, he was at forty four percent from three, which tells you how bad he started off. And Lawrence Frank said in this presser that Terrence man, uh,

he's got to start faster. Basically, I'm paraphrasing a little bit there. Now, we got some stuff from Coach Lou. I want to make sure to get it to you guys. This is all coming from our fabulous reporters in La Murray and Justin Rousseau. H. I don't know what the question was, but Coach Lou said, quote, yeah, we're going to have an identity this year. Well, if you know me, I've been asking what's their identity the past couple of seasons. I don't think they've had one, and that's been frustrating.

I think it's going to be a defense first mentality. Toront Lou did say that the defensive improvement will come from playing harder, rebounding the basketball, and getting back in transition. So Lawrence Frank and Coach Lou have made a point when it comes to rebounding better. We know that's been an issue. Here's old dirty Dasher saying, I believe in a defense anchored by Zoo. Well, yeah, he was the

best rent protector in the league last season. Why was you not nobody held defenders to a lower percentage at the rim than Big Zoo. Big R sixty four says defense needs to be their identity. That's their strong point. I told you that back on what day was it, June thirtieth, when free agency opened up. I immediately said, when they got Derek Jones Jr. This is it. They're building a defensive ball club. That's how they're making up for the loss of Paul George. They're not going to

be seventeenth defensively this season. They can't beat They have to be top ten. I think they have to be top eight, then Chris Duncoms, then Niko Batoum. This has been something I've talked about and we've talked about on clips and DIP all summer long, guys, So I'm not surprised by the messaging here making defense a talking point, and I'm guessing that's going to be their identity. Looks like that was the last we got from La Murray. He's asking if you want the press conference on YouTube

or not. Let's see if Justin Rousseau is finished on his side with his tweets and by the way, he's at fly by Night, kN Ie follow him and follow La Murray at La Murray and you on X. John Lous said this about new Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy quote, I always tell him he's not happy unless he's mad, which is pretty funny, well worded statement. Again, there's going to be a competition for the two spot. That's the second biggest development coming out of this. It's

not secure with Terrence Man. He started seventy one games last season, but that job is still I guess someone on shaky ground. They brought in Chris Dunn, Norman Powell. I think he's always wanted to be a starter. I think he's always wanted to be an All Star. Last season he kind of accepted his role as a six man and it worked out for him, shooting forty four

percent from three, getting fourteen points per night. It's it's gonna be an interesting competition because I think a lot of Clipper Nation they're gonna be rooting for Terrence Man to win it because well, he's the incumbent, I guess, and he has been a fan favorite for so long. But I find it fascinating that a guy they're working on an extension with and trying to get locked up longer doesn't have a secure starting spot. I'm not shocked by it. I think this is just what it is

now with the Clippers. They're trying to build a culture of competition and might a fire under guys and make them fee like they always have to be out there competing and playing at their best. What's wrong with that? So if Terrence Man's fighting with Chris Dunn and Norman Powell for the starting two spot, good and like Lawrence Frank said, quote, Terrence Man won't be a slow starter this year. Expect him to shoot more threes and rebound

better for his position. That's his mission, That's what's expected of him, and that's what needs to happen if he wants to hold on to being the starting two guard. It's pretty simple. Terrence Man attempted just under four threes per game last season. It was down two attempts from where he was in the twenty one to twenty two season,

where he was playing three more minutes per game. Grand because that was the year without Kawhi, the year or Paul George only played thirty one games, but he probably should have still been taking five threes per game last season. Remember, once he went into that rut, he shied away, he passed up three balls. That's been his issue. It's not

whether or not he can shoot from the outside. He's a thirty seven percent three point shooter for his career, and we're talking at this point almost one thousand threes taken in his five seasons in the NBA. That's enough of a sample size. He's a good three point shooter. Have confidence in your shot, don't shy away from it. They need you for them to unlock their offense. He

has to take and make threes. Here's Thomas saying, I hope Tyler lou will give Cam Christy ten minutes a game for eighty two games to speed up the process. I don't want him in the G League. Well, he's a young player. One year at college at Minnesota. I wouldn't bank on that. Kobe Brown was twenty three, twenty four years of age last season, got a ten game

sample size and then didn't progress farther than that. Further than that because that was a team with championship expectations that was trying to win now and they couldn't wait on him. We'll see. They're trying to compete now while I think getting guys and young guys a little bit more run out there in development. Yes, he has a high IQ. Great. You know how many young players come out and have a high IQ and it's still the

game is moving far too fast for them. We have no idea how far along he is yet, because he's never played at this level. Summer League is not the NBA. Sorry, he has a tangible skill set. He could shoot. I don't think he'll be afraid to put him up, but you don't know. He hasn't done it at this level yet. I think he is a legit three point threat already. But if he doesn't do all the other little things right, it doesn't matter. He's gonna hurt you on the other

end of the court. He's gonna hurt you in all the little ways, the intangibles. So we'll see what type of opportunity he gets. I don't know when coach Leu talks about him starting too and that position being up for grabs and training camp, that Cam Christie is competing for that job. Yes, voice or reason, Thomas says, thanks, Yeah, game is too fast for rookie Well typically yes, So I'm not gonna say he's gonna be getting ten minutes per night would be pretty significant for a second round

pick pick forty four or forty six. I forget which one he was and which one Terrence Man was the best way for him to learn and get more reps is the G League. That's the path right now, because the G League they don't have dogs down there. They

got wolves. As Sendarius Thornwell said before, you don't want to have to go to the G League because those guys play so hard every minute, every second of the game, because they're climbing over each other like rats on a sinking ship to try to make it up to the big leagues. In the NBA, those guys go so hard. So as much as I love Camp Christy, I wouldn't expect him to be at the NBA level to start the season. Maybe if he looks like the game is too small for him in the G League and he dominates,

maybe he'll get a look. But why would you think he's gained the look before. Someone like Jordan Miller, who was eighth in G League scoring last year and just lit up Summer League and so far every hurdle you put in front of him, he clears. That's the guy that should be getting a shot first. He and Kobe Brown are turning twenty five by the end of this season. Guys, it's kind of now or never. Honestly, this is it. They got to find out what they have. And I

don't know Jordan Miller. He should have been the MVP of the Summer League. He dominated b Reno, Andred says, what is your starting lineup? I'll give you mine. I'll give you what I hope the starting lamp is gonna be simple. James Harden, Terrence Man, Derek Jones Junior, Kawhi, Leonard Avitza Zubats. That's my starting five. But I see arguments for other guys in there. I could argue with myself right now and say, I kind of like Nicholas

batoum with the starters at the four spot. So Kawhi plays a three, and then you've got a decision to make between Derek Jones Junior and Terrence Mann at the two. And obviously it's James Harden running the show. Thomas says, but Jordan Miller needs have proven an actual NBA game yes he does, but he's already proven it in the G League and dominating Summer League, so you give him

a chance before Cam Christy. Like, if a guy is overcoming all the challenges you throw in front of him at lower levels, eventually you have to see what you can do at the highest level. That's how it works. I agree with old Dirty Dasher, we're down bad. If Cam Christy is getting run this season. Probably there's just so many guys on this team that have shown more and have done more at higher levels so far than Cam Christy. Hey would love to be wrong. I'm rooting

for the guy. Like I said, he showed better defense in Summer League than I thought he had, and the shot he didn't shy away, he was confident that could be a steal in the draft. Really believe that. Here is Nara asking about Terrence Man. If he doesn't get the starting role, trade Man, then we can't lose him for nothing. If he doesn't get the starting role, he still is a very valuable piece, giving you twenty plus minutes per night. While only making eleven million dollars or

ten million dollars per year. It's going to be tough to get equal value considering how little he's being paid right now. Now, I understand you don't want to lose him for nothing and go into next off season with Terrence Man just being able to walk, but you at least take it till the trade deadline, most likely, unless those talks get nasty and things become untenable with he

and his agent, which I don't expect to happen. No, I'm seeing how things go with Terrence Man and where this team is at before I trade somebody making that little that has a very high level of production when it comes to making winning plays and being a plus out there. Reno Andred. I think our audios pronounce his name two different ways, Jordan Miller and Kobe d minutes this season? Okay, do you also want to win this season? That's the balance, that's the Teeter Totter game. You likely

can't do both. It's very hard to blend in young guys and also win at the same time. It can be done Denver's being able to do it. Of course. They have Jokic and Murray and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Junior and guys being relatively healthy. I know Jamal Murray's had some issues but Jokic really hasn't. So they can hold up their end while young guys learn. Not everybody can do that. That's difficult. Thomas says, I saw the Ricohins and Kevin Porter junior shots horrible in the

free throw horribly written in phrase here. I just don't know why he's like that. If he's such a good shooter, so he wasn't shooting it well at the free throw line, I don't know. I'm going to look up his numbers at the charity stripe in his career. I'm more interested in what he's actually done in the NBA than Rico Hi at the free throw line. He's a seventy two percent free throw shooter, so not great, but his last season he shot almost eighty percent from the charity stripe.

I don't think whether or not he's hitting free throw is going to make or break whether or not he can played for the Clippers. It's first of all, is he going to be suspended suspen suspended by the NBA? Easy for me to say. Second of all, if he is well, other guys are already filling that spot and the season has started, it's going to be really difficult

for him to break into the rotation. If he's not, he still is competing with guys who have played more recently in the NBA and guys who have played for the Clippers. How's he going to overtake Norman Powell? Because I don't think you can play Chris Dunn next to Norman Powell and KPJ out there in some three guard lineup, guys. I think he can play Chris Dunn next to either of them, but not next to both. So how do

you get minutes for everybody? It's really tough. Big R sixty four says, I believe they'll reassign Terrence man here in a few weeks. Well, he's been extension eligible for some time and it hasn't happened yet, But maybe you have some intel we don't. I hope that's the case. I wouldn't be shocked that. Mexicannar says if a Toomb starts, who's the backup for Kai? Kobe? Kai hasn't squashed a greape yet in the NBA either. He's on a non guaranteed camp inbite guys. I hope he balls out and

becomes a stud in this league for the Clippers. But what are we talking about. I think a mirror would play a little bit offore, not great at it, not ideal. I think Kobe Brown's going to get a shot. We'll see. It's a fair question, that is the appropriate one. If Nick Niko Batuma's starting, will they just go smaller with their second unit? I don't know. It's hard to say at this point. It's just interesting that it sounded like not just a position is up for grabs, but positions,

if I'm reading that correctly. From La Murray and Justin Rousseau. Thomas asked, why do the Clippers take a risk on Kevin Porter if he's going to be suspended because it could be a project, something long term, because he is talented, because they're not looking for him to make a contribution immediately.

That that's probably probably why uh Rafa meant to, says CB and Denver played a huge role, Christian Braun, Christian Brown, excuse me, and the Nuggets win the chip likely a huge role for Dallas Lively, a huge role for Dallas's rookie Lewis stubborn in his ways. Look if somebody shines and shows something, then they'll play These young guys, haven't don't tell me that Kobe Brown didn't get a shot last year. He did, He got a ten game sample size. He got a little bit better by the end of it,

but the game was still too fast form. And tell me who are the young guys on the Clippers that you want playing over some of the vets right now that are going to help you win more. Now, tell me who those guys are. I don't think that's conclusive. Jordan Miller, Kobe Brown, I haven't showed anything. Camp Christy has not showed anything. Kevin Porter Junior could be talked about as a young guy. He could be suspended. He has shown something in the league, but he also hasn't

played since April twenty twenty three. Who are these guys? Who are the young guys that should be playing over more established players? Big R sixty four says that James Harden version is gone. They need him to play more like John Stockton. Well, I agree, the guy who was getting thirty five per game or close to at times. We had someone ask about this earlier. He's not walking through the door at the age of thirty five. James Harden is not going to be to average thirty five

at the age of thirty five. Now, I'm sorry, brand Boston Junior is not on the Clippers anymore. If that's the guy you're saying should play, I hate to break it to you. Brand Boston Junior also got enough opportunities. Tell me what's his NBA skill set right now? Because yet he never showed it. He had a couple flashes and that was it. He's somebody that would try to

get into his bag bogged down. The offense was more of an individual ISO score or if I'm being generous, that's how he could project to be in this league, a sixth man Jordan Clarkson type. But that is being very very generous. He never showed enough, guys, and I think he got enough opportunities. He also had some injuries. Here's Brino Andreid asking or saying, but too in the starting lineup is good, but the second unit will be

too small. Well, it depends do you stagger them to beast zoobots and play him a lot with the second unit. Is Terrence Man starting or not? He can play multiple positions, so there's a lot in flux right now. D Flow says, all this news today makes me even more proud to be a Clippers fan. Baby, let the heartache I'm used to begin. Misery loves company and more misery. James Harden's goal should be to lead the league in assists. A big R sixty four says that, yeah, he did it

just two years ago with Philadelphia. You're saying Bones Highland is a guy. I am the leader of the Bones Highland fan club. Who is he taking minutes away from between James Harden, Chris Dunn, Norman Powell, Terrence Man. He had the backup point guard spot in his grafts and then they brought in James Harden. That meant Russ was coming off the bench. How was Bones going to play? Do I wish he was the backup instead of Russell

Westbrook last season? Yeah? I do, because he has shown me enough to say that guy is a backup point guard in the NBA right now and can be electric. But some of it's on him. He pouted. It looked like out there he slouched, his shoulders dropped when he stopped getting playing time, and then when even he did get out there during garbage time, he was playing unserious basketball. Thomas says, I hope Tyler has a set rotation established

after ten to fifteen games. Because every time Tyler experimented with different lineups throughout the regular season, it messes up the chemistry and connection. What about when he experimented with putting Russell Westbrook off the bench and starting Terrence Mann again seemed to work. That experiment work pretty well. Look, they had to implement James Harden on the fly. Wasn't easy. I think it worked out when they clicked in and went twenty six and five in a thirty one game stretch,

I think that worked out all right. Now. Regarding Mobamba, Rafa Mentue says, we have Bamba for the second unit. Yeah, well, things could still change. I like Mobamba. I think he has more upside than people realize. But he hasn't exactly established himself in this league yet for being such a high pick. It's the reason the Clippers were able to get him, and I believe a vet men he still is playing to prove. We'll see. It is a situation that is going to lead to a lot of storylines

this season. Bastian Schweinsteiger, that's a footballer. I learned that. I really think this team buys in defensively. With Jeff Van Gundy, Man gives us more room for error this season given how hard we'll compete on that end. Yeah, if you raise your and your baseline of this is how we play every night defensively, and guys really give a great effort on that end, shots will come and go on the offensive end, and you'll still be in games.

It is a sustainable and realistic way to get by in the regular season by having a high end defense regardless of where your offense is. Because I don't know remember if it was Doc Rivers who said it, but he said, you can have a winning record in the regular season if you just play hard every night. So yeah, Jeff Van Gundy, I was all for bringing him in.

It's really cool with the first team. He is back in the NBA with being an assistant coach for as the Clippers, because a lot of teams have been after him. Thomas says, I think Jeff Van Gundy is a great mentor to the young guys and can show them how to play the game the right way. Yeah, he's fiery. He will have guys well prepared and ready on that end.

I expect them to be a top ten defense, but if they can be top eight and a lot of that could be depending on how many games you get out of Kawhi Leonard because he's such a great defender. But if they can be top eight, now you're in business. Because I think with James Harden, after looking through over the numbers last twelve seasons with him, no matter if he's in Houston or Brooklyn or Philly, the worst offense he's ever had was ranked twelve, and on average, offenses

with James Harden were top five. That's big. Shaquem Samuel says, So how far do you think the Clippers can go in the playoffs? Playoffs means you're a top six seed or you get in through the play in I think they're gonna end up somewhere. Let's say, if Kawhi plays fifty games, if James Harden plays sixty five plus games, I think they'll be somewhere between six and eight. But nothing's guaranteed in the West. If Kawhi struggles with his health more as we have seen, what are we talking

about with playoffs? Why talk about playoffs? I want to see if Kawhi can play seven to ten games straight again, that's what I want to see. I just want to see a healthy Kawhi and where he's at before we start making predictions. Yeah, I think overall there's somewhere six to ten. But it's going to be really tight. As Lawrence Frank mentioned in the Western Conference, you look at it, the Sacramento Kings two years ago were the three seed.

They won forty eight games. Last year they won two less at forty six, and they drop down to the night seed in the West. Two games in one season of difference. That's incredible to me. But all this is always going to come down to the health of Kawhi Leonard. If he can give him fifty to fifty five, sixty games or more, then I feel good about the Clippers' chances of staying afloat and hovering just outside being in the plan. But I don't know. I don't know where

his health is going to be at. And once again the quote coming from Lawrence Frank is regarding the swelling with Kawhi Leonard, and I want to get it right one more time here for you, because this was the main story coming out of this press conference with Laurence Frank and coach Luce today. Lawrence Frank said this regarding the status of Kawhi Leonard's knee. Quote, his right knee,

the swelling has significantly gone down, it's almost gone. We're going to hold him back from drill work in training camp and work on strengthening Lawrence Frank said. The encouraging thing is that the team and Kawhi Leonard have seen progress in Leonard's rehabilitation of knee inflammation. That's it when you want to talk about where the Clippers could end up. I don't know how many games is Kawhi playing. Kind of hinges on that, and if he's healthy, he will

be playing. He wants to play. Art h said, I'm expecting twenty one points per game from James Harden this year. He's putting the work in. I think that's realistic without Paul George, with how much is going to be demanded of James hard to coach. Lou talked about more pick and rolls this season. Love hearing that because that means you're getting Big Zoo involved to A ton has to happen. But James Harden could very well go from sixteen points six points per game to twenty one points per game,

which is where he was last year. The year before last in Philadelphia in fifty eight games, average twenty one points and ten point seven assists per ball game. That's the James Harden they need, guys. It's pretty simple. He ended up shooting forty four percent from the floor in thirty almost thirty nine percent from the outside that final season with Philly. That's the blueprint. That's it. Give us that version of James Harden and the Clippers are in business.

They still need Quiet to be healthy. But I think that's the minimum of what you need from James Harden, and I think it's very much attainable. I do. I would not be shocked if he has a very similar season to what we saw that last year in Philly. I'm interested to see where he's at movement wise, because he had a hamstring injury in Brooklyn that it seems like the further he gets away from it, the more burst he shows. But we'll see. He's thirty five, just

turned thirty five. He's had, by all accounts, a healthy offseason. But there is this other note coming from the Clippers regarding other guys having minor injuries on the roster. Those names aren't being disclosed for now, so we have to wait and see next Monday, media Day looking forward to that. I also like this prediction here from Brino saying Zoon needs to step up big this season. Sixteen points per game and ten boards would be great. Yes, it would be.

I think that's the bare minimum they need from avitz Zu bots sixty to ten. That's kind of been where I've been at sixty four. Big r R sixty four says Big Zoo could easily average fifteen to ten with opportunities. He's got to play more than twenty six minutes per game, which is where he was at this past season. I'm confident he will. It's gonna be right on the line. I think of thirty minutes right in there, twenty nine,

thirty thirty one somewhere in there. Rafamantue said Zoo is thirty thirty or Zoo's thirty thirty game proved he hasn't in him almost thirty thirty game. I think he had twenty nine boards, not thirty. All right, I appreciate everyone for being in here. One more time. I'll advertise. After I'm done here, maybe go check out the Ralph Lawler interview. It's special. It's shot really well. You'll be amazed by the production level. It was appropriate because it was Ralph.

I had to do it big. I had to do it right for him. And it's just part one. It's about forty seven minutes long, came out yesterday and it's one of the features now on Clippers Talk and it is a Clippers Talk YouTube exclusive. So if you're listening to this episode of the Clippers Talk live on the podcast side, the only way you can see the Ralph Laller interview is going to Clippers Talk on YouTube. Simple,

doesn't cost you anything, you just go there. I appreciate everyone for joining me during this press conference, from Coach Lou, from Lawrence Frank big Ups, to La Murray to Justin Russo follow them. That's where I was gathering this information from. Make sure you support the local media and reporters for the Clippers here. That's the way to do it. Art says he's checking out the Ralph Lawler interview. This is one of those things where I can't overhype it. I

honestly think it will deliver for you guys. And when part two comes out, I think it's even better than part one. Really really I do. Anyways, love y'all check me out tomorrow night. We'll have a clips and Dip episode, and I think before that, I'll have an interview off with Carl Jimenez. Excuse me, not Carl Tart, not Carlo Tart. Carlo Jimenez, your radio voice of the Clippers. As my throat is, I'm running out of steam here. My radio potner,

Carlo Jimenez will join me tomorrow on Clippers Talk. Should be up around five or five thirty. That'll be a podcast, not a live Carlo Jimenez you may know from the Tiktoks, the Tiki Tuckies. Yeah, he is pretty slick with it. I'll ask him about his social media presence and being one year in as the Clippers new radio play about play voice. So I'm Adam Ouslin. This has been another edition of Clippers Talk Live. Touch you tomorrow