Kawhi Leonard says his knee is good, as for new teammates ‘nobody stood out to me so far’ |Max Sporty|

It’s going to be an interesting, unpredictable season for the Clippers: A brand new building to promote and home in, plus plenty of old-school James Harden with the ball in his hands (he shot eight free throws in 18 minutes of action. in the Clippers first preseason game).

Kawhi Leonard addressed two of the big questions facing the Clippers this season: his knee and how his new teammates are looking.

Leonard had an offseason procedure on his knee, inflammation there kept him out of the Paris Olympics, and was held out of much of training camp to work on getting his knee stronger and ready for the season. He said at halftime of the Clippers’ preseason game in Honolulu that things are looking good, but whether he’ll play in back-to-backs this season remains to be seen. Here’s his quote, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

“I feel good. Just took my time, got stronger and got ready.

“… We’re just taking it slow, day by day and just trying to get myself back on the floor. Once those conversations come, we’ll see what they talk about. [on the best approach for back-to-backs].”

Leonard played in 68 games last season, the most he has played in a season since 2017, and he was an All-NBA performer. Then knee problems flared up in the playoffs, he only got in two games, and the Mavericks sent the Clippers home in the first round. The question this season is how to get Leonard through the regular season and have him healthy for the postseason.

The other thing the Clippers need to reach the postseason is that their new players – Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Kevin Porter Jr. – to step up and fill some of the gap left by Paul George going to Philadelphia. So far, I can’t say that Leonard is impressed.

If Leonard’s knee isn’t right and he can’t be on the court for 60+ games this season, it may not matter how well those rookies play.

It’s going to be an interesting season in Los Angeles.