Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are entering training camp “fully healthy,” according to Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.
“Both are fully healthy. I think both have had extremely productive offseasons, and obviously our two best players are totally invested in doing special things for the Clippers,” said Frank on Wednesday.
Leonard and George each have a $48 million player option for the 2024-25 season, and both are eligible to sign four-year extensions worth $223 million.
Frank also addressed the possibility of the Clippers upgrading the roster. James Harden was rumored as a trade target, though there was no traction on a deal.
“You are always looking for ways to get better, both individually, as a team. … From our standpoint, we’ll always be aggressive trying to find ways to improve the team,” added Frank.
Damian Lillard communicated to the Portland Trail Blazers that he was willing to be patient and let the season play out if it meant he could eventually be traded to the Miami Heat.
Lillard has been working out at the Blazers’ practice facility over the past two weeks, interacting with players and coaches.
Joe Cronin expressed skepticism about Lillard beginning training camp with the Blazers and it became clear they would try to resolve the trade situation before media day on Oct. 2.
Lillard believed his loyalty to the Blazers since he was drafted in 2012 meant they would accommodate him with his trade request to the Heat. Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a workable deal with the Heat and that wish went unfulfilled.
Lillard’s camp had a realization that he would need to begin to seriously consider the possibility of playing somewhere other than Miami.
Cronin stopped responding to all communication from Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, in mid-September as tension increased between both sides.
Once Lillard was convinced a trade to the Heat was virtually impossible, sources say he came open to the prospect of playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. The Toronto Raptors had serious interest in trading for Lillard, but his resistance to playing for that franchise remained an obstacle.
When the Portland Trail Blazers first spoke with the Miami Heat on a potential Damian Lillard trade, they asked for either Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo back in return.
The Blazers and Heat had multiple conversations in July, but sources say the two sides never engaged in substantive negotiations. The Heat believed the Blazers had little interest in engaging on a trade with them.
Sources say the Heat were prepared in July and August to offer up to three first round picks with Tyler Herro going to a third team plus multiple second rounders, expiring contracts and Nikola Jovic.
Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a deal with the Heat, but those wishes went unfulfilled in his mind.
The Blazers eventually traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks with Jrue Holiday as the centerpiece return, which they will now attempt to trade elsewhere.
