Team USA’s minicamp is set to begin in exactly three weeks, and the status of Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard remains up in the air.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, USA Basketball is considering Boston Celtics guard Derrick White as one of the players who could potentially replace Leonard on the team should he find himself not ready to compete. With camp kicking off in Las Vegas on July 6th, there’s a real chance a replacement is needed.
“I’m told Derrick White looms as a real potential candidate for Team USA in the Summer Olympics if Kawhi Leonard is unable to successfully rehab back from that knee inflammation that kept him out of the back-end of the playoffs,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on NBA Countdown before Game 4.
Derrick White has been fantastic for the Celtics this season and especially in the postseason, creating a fearsome, two-way backcourt for a Boston team now one win away from an NBA Championship.
Kawhi Leonard, on the flip side, remains an injury enigma. After a fantastic season in which he played the most games in the regular season since his 2016-17 campaign, Leonard missed four of the Clippers’ six games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs with right knee inflammation.
He was able to play in Games 2 and 3 of the series, but clearly was not close to 100 percent. On one play in Game 3, Kawhi Leonard threw down a dunk in transition, but held onto the rim until he stopped swaying on it in order to soften his landing.
With a clearly hobbled Leonard, the Clippers elected to hold Leonard out for the remainder of the postseason. When approached by ClutchPoints regarding Leonard and his availability, managing director of the USA Men's National Team Grant Hill declined to give anything official.
“I can’t comment on that at this time,” Hill told ClutchPoints after Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
One would think that a direct answer would be easy to deliver if Leonard’s availability wasn’t at all in question.
Wojnarowski’s report isn’t coming out of nowhere, however, and it is noteworthy that backup plans are being considered with the 2024 Paris Olympics starting July 26.
When approached about the subject, a source not authorized to speak publicly also declined to confirm or deny whether Leonard would be ready for camp.
Derrick White next in line to replace Clippers' Kawhi Leonard on Team USA
Should he be needed, a player like Derrick White would be a perfect replacement for Leonard and his two-way abilities.
“You’ve seen White’s two-way prowess on display throughout the season and into the postseason,” added Wojnarowski.
It’s unclear what Grant Hill and USA Basketball’s timeline is at this point in the offseason. Of course, should White be offered the spot, it would be up to him to accept or reject the offer.
Additionally, ESPN’s report said he was among potential candidates, leaving the door open for other players as well.
White averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 blocks per game for the Celtics this season on 46.1 percent shooting from the field and 39.6 percent from three.
In 68 games for the Clippers this past season, Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field, 41.7 percent from three, and 88.5 percent from the free throw line.
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