The LA Clippers have played all season without Kawhi Leonard, but there might be some good news on the horizon. The star forward has been aggressively attacking his rehab from a torn ACL, and according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, is eyeing a return this year.

Haynes reports that Kawhi Leonard is ahead of schedule.

ā€œKawhi Leonard is actually ahead of schedule in his rehab and a return this season is a strong possibility,ā€ Haynes said. ā€œSpeaking with multiple Clippers players, they said he won't be concerned with their playoff slide, believing that if fully healthy, they'll be favorites over most in the West.ā€

Leonard being ahead of schedule was first reported by Fan Nation's Farbod Eshaashari

Just after Christmas, Tyronn Lue hinted at some welcome sights regarding Kawhi Leonard.

ā€œHeā€™s doing good,ā€ Tyronn Lue said of Kawhi Leonard with a smirk. ā€œI havenā€™t seen much. Havenā€™t been looking. I donā€™t want to get too excited, you know, so I havenā€™t been looking.ā€

If the Clippers are able to be whole again, there's a conversation to be hard about them being legitimate contenders for the NBA title. Being healthy is not something they've been, however.

Through 39 games, Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Nicolas Batum have played just four and a half minutes together on the court.

Leonard signed a four-year max deal with the Clippers this past offseason, which was arguably the ā€˜worst' of his contractual options to capitalize and make the most money. The deal had many wondering what Leonard's plans were, but he shut down any talks on Media Day.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Mavericks' Jason Kidd saying the following: Updates Mavericks' logo in background.

Joey Mistretta Ā·

Mavericks Clippers prediction

Dominik Zawartko Ā·

Mavericks' Luka Doncic, Mavericks' Kyrie Irving on left. Clippers' Paul George' Clippers Kawhi Leonard on right.

Joey Mistretta Ā·

ā€œOne thing, I wanted to secure some money, and I wanted to be able to come back if I was able to this year,ā€ Kawhi Leonard said in September. ā€œIf I would have took the one-and-one, I probably would have not played just to be cautious and opted out and took a five-year.ā€

ā€œI'm just trying to get healthy is whatā€™s next. The same stuff you usually do for a specific injury. Work on it, lift weights, make sure you donā€™t compensate, and youā€™re strong and stable. Just keep following that path; thatā€™s all I can do. Just take it one day at a time.ā€

The Clippers are currently sitting in the eighth seed in the Western Conference, with a record of 19-20. They're a game-and-a-half behind the Dallas Mavericks for the fifth seed and three games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the 10th seed.