LA Clippers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) underwent a procedure on his right knee in May after he was able to only play two games in their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard said that the knee is feeling "good" right now and "We're just taking it slow, day by day and just trying to get me back on the floor." The Clippers are understandably taking a cautious approach after trading away Paul George and putting the weight of the team on James Harden and Leonard's shoulders. His health has been the trickiest part of the situation ever since he joined the Clippers in 2019. This past season, Leonard played in 68 games, which is his highest mark since the 2016-17 season when he was still with the San Antonio Spurs. Every time he's on the floor, he proves why the Clippers wanted him in the first place, but his injury status is something to constantly monitor.

Los Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker is away from the team right now as a mutually agreed situation while the team decides how to move forward with the former NBA Champ. Tucker expressed frustration with his role on the team last season and it looks like that hasn't been resolved heading into training camp and the preseason. Both sides agreed to take some time apart while the Clippers decide if they can trade him. Tucker has an $11.5 million price tag for this season after opting into the option, so teams haven't been very interested in his level of contribution for such a high price. The new tax aprons further complicate things, so it may be a while until we see Tucker on the court again.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) aims to play in the season opener on Oct. 23 against the Phoenix Suns. The multi-time Finals MVP is battling inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, but speaking to the media on Monday, Leonard said the knee is "feeling a lot better than it was" and that the plan is for him to play against the Suns. While this is an encouraging update, Leonard also admitted he could be forced to deal with the inflammation for the rest of his career. This means that fantasy managers who plan on having Leonard on their team must be prepared to be without him for stretches across the season.

Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard James Harden said that he was "home" when asked about re-signing with the Clippers this season. "I don't plan on going anywhere else. I wanna leave a legacy," the 35-year-old stated. Harden signed a two-year, $70M contract this offseason that includes a player option for the 2025-2026 season. NBA fans may be a little skeptical about his intentions not to go anywhere else as he's been on the move quite often since his final days in Houston. However, Harden sounds happy where he's at on a roster that's been a perennial playoff contender since the 2011-2012 season. Harden saw a drop in production across the board in his first season in LA, averaging 16.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 8.5 APG. He will likely be asked to produce more with the departure of Paul George, meaning more opportunities from three. Harden averaged 6.8 three point attempts last season, mostly in line with his volume as a Net and a Sixer. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Harden in their upcoming drafts. With a current ADP of 21, Harden will be a very important piece to any fantasy roster.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is determined to remind everyone of his abilities when fully healthy. "People forget me as a player when I'm healthy," Simmons said confidently in a recent interview. After being limited to just 15 games last season due to injuries, Simmons says he's "ready to go" following surgery. During Nets Media Day, he emphasized that health is his priority: "It's important just to be healthy. I want to play basketball at a high level and get the most I can out of my body. That's the focus. Money is nice and all that, but I want to play healthy. At the end of the day, I love playing basketball." Fantasy managers should watch his progress closely, as Simmons can be a stat-stuffer if he stays on the court consistently.