Hoping for the best

That the Clippers continue to do relatively well despite the offseason departure of Paul George and the continued sidelining of Kawhi Leonard is due in large measure to the stabilizing presence of head coach Tyronn Lue. He has certainly come a long way since he was first thrust into the hot seat as an interim replacement for the overwhelmed David Blatt in 2016. Even then, he did fine — so fine, in fact, that the Cavaliers went on to claim the title amid incredible odds. And, needless to say, his championship experience has been serving him in good stead these days. Notwithstanding his roster’s frequent use of turnstiles, he has kept the blue and red above water — barely, perhaps, but still way above expectations.

For the Clippers, the good news is that Leonard appears to be close to battle-ready. Per Lue’s latest update, he has begun practicing with his teammates and is seen to keep ramping up physical activities until he is deemed fit for active duty. As inconclusive as the news may be, it’s still the best coming from his camp since he missed the final eight games of the 2023-24 regular season and all but two in the ensuing playoffs due to a recurring injury to his already-repaired right knee. And while James Harden has been able to turn back time and steady the ship during his convalescence, there’s no question that it will go only so far as he can steer it as its skipper.

In retrospect, it’s fair to argue that the Clippers knew he was already prone to breakdowns when they went all in for him in 2019; not for nothing did he miss close to 200 games in the previous eight seasons. That said, they were buoyed by the Raptors’ successful management of his time on the court en route to the crown; his immediate past employers seemed to provide the blueprint for his effective utilization. Unfortunately, not even an abundance of wariness could prevent his frequent decommissioning; he sat out 55 outings in the next two seasons, missed the 2021-22 campaign entirely, and then stood by the wayside in 44 more contests over the last two years.

It is what it is, to be sure, and the Clippers are left to hope for the best while anticipating the worst. They’re still erring on the side of caution, but nonetheless prepared to keep plodding on without him. And with Lue on tap, they’re not likely to fall prey to the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It’s too bad, really, because he’s signed on until 2027 — holding promise, albeit with the wrong premise.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.