Clippers All-Star James Harden has been extremely criticized for an additional dismal playoff efficiency in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, however he does have a supporter within the group.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank views Harden as having performed a “great job leading the way” whereas Kawhi Leonard sat out the primary 34 video games due to right-knee damage administration and appreciated how the staff responded to the 16-year veteran.
Frank didn’t point out how Harden was underwhelming within the postseason, averaging simply 18.7 factors per recreation within the collection the Clippers misplaced to the Nuggets and the way he scored simply 33 factors mixed in Video games 4, 5 and seven losses, together with seven factors in Recreation 7.
“When it was James this year with no Kawhi, with Norm [Powell] and [Ivica] Zubac and the rest of the group, we really asked James to do a lot,” Frank mentioned through Zoom as a result of he was away together with his household at a New York hospital due to a household medical subject.
“And at his age to deliver what he did…[He played in] 79 games, and he does that time and time and time again. We have a deep appreciation for that sort of availability and to be able to deliver and do what he did…We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year.”
Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard dunks in opposition to the Denver Nuggets in Recreation 6 on Might 1.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Harden has a participant possibility for subsequent season that pays him $36 million, and he has to let the Clippers know his determination by June 29. He can resolve to opt-in, which suggests he can’t get an extension, or he can opt-out and work with the Clippers on an extension.
Frank mentioned Harden, who will likely be 36 in August, is the staff’s “first priority.”
“Now, because James has a player option, it would be irresponsible for me not to have contingency plans with it,” Frank mentioned. “But I’m going in with the intent that if he doesn’t pick up his option, that we’re going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers.”
Frank was glad that Leonard was wholesome following the season and that his greatest participant has two years left on his deal for $100 million.
Powell, 31, has one yr left on his contract at $20.4 million and he additionally will likely be searching for an extension. Zubac begins his three-year extension for $58.6 million subsequent season, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all underneath contract and are high function gamers. Nicolas Batum has a participant possibility for $4.9 million, however is anticipated to return.
The Clippers will look to enhance their staff within the draft — they’ve a first-round decide (twenty ninth total) and a second-round choice. They will use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million per season they usually have commerce exceptions of $6.5 million, $4.2 million and $2.1 million.
“Make no mistake, we want to contend in the present,” Frank mentioned.
“We also will plan for the future and we’ll take the necessary steps to implement it.”
Frank mentioned what occurred in Recreation 7 through which the Clippers trailed by 35 factors was “extremely embarrassing and also uncharacteristic” for this staff. However he supplied some perspective on all the season.
The Clippers completed the season with a 50-32 document, received 18 of their final 21 regular-season video games and have been the fifth seed within the West.
“So, I don’t want to diminish the fact that we lost in a seven-game series,” Frank mentioned, “and also not share the fact that [I’m] very prideful about the inspired play we had for much of the year.”
