LAYUP LINES: The most interesting NBA story before the postseason is ... Kawhi Leonard?
Yes, really.
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I told you recently that I’m rooting for chaos in the NBA’s Eastern Conference with the Nets maybe turning everything upside down if they get out of the play-in.
Out West? I need Kawhi Leonard to come back. Now.
Should the Clippers risk the health of their superstar by letting him play now, instead of waiting until next season when he and Paul George can be among the contenders in the West? Heck yeah, that’d be smart.
But I want chaos. And seeing Leonard dribbling a basketball this week has me getting excited.
What if the Clips win the No. 7 seed out of the play-in and Leonard suits up to face the Grizzlies, a team that would suddenly be very, very nervous to see two of the NBA’s best defenders — even one not at 100 percent — coming to play them?
I seriously don’t think this is going to happen. The Suns are more than likely going to win the West, so instead of risking further injury to Leonard, the Clippers should tell him and George to focus on next season, when they’ll be fresh after the offseason, and with a solid team that’s mostly intact.
I can dream, though. How awesome would it be to see Leonard surprise us all for the playoffs?
Alright, let’s get to today’s links, bets and more:
The Tip-Off
Highlighting some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
(AP Photo/LM Otero)
Uh, could the Los Angeles Lakers trade Russell Westbrook to … the Charlotte Hornets?! Whaaaaat?
That was something floated by Marc Stein on Thursday and addressed by Lonzo Wire:
Stein notes the interest from the Hornets would stem from creating financial flexibility for the long term as Westbrook will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and would lift his $47 million off the books for the Hornets to pay their young players, like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
Hmmm. I guess that makes sense, but that would be … something!
One to Watch
76ers (-1.5, -130) vs. Raptors(+105), O/U 219.5, 7:30 PM ET
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Raptors might be the Team No One Wants to Face this postseason, and the Sixers would love to keep up in the Eastern standings to get a better seed. This one should be good. I’ll take the road favorites with that spread.
Who’s in and out?
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
— Celtics: Both Jayson Tatum and Al Horford will be out and rested against the Bucks on Thursday.
— Lakers: LA has been eliminated and so LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are all out due to injury.
— Pelicans: Brandon Ingram is doubtful against the Blazers with hamstring tightness.
Shootaround
— Could the Celtics get Robert Williams back soon? Head coach Ime Udoka says it could be “sooner than later.”
— Where do the Lakers go from here? HoopsHype breaks it down.
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