NBA Rumors: Clippers Full Potential Unlikely To Be Seen Early Next Season

Everyone is excited to see the Los Angeles Clippers this 2019-20 NBA season, mainly with a daunting frontline in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. And while most are pondering on the possibilities, some may have forgotten that the six-time All-Star is still on the mend. George underwent surgery for his right rotator cuff and left labrum right after his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, were booted out of the 2018-29 playoffs.

It was way back in may when George and Russell Westbrook underwent respective surgeries with the intent of coming back healthy for the Thunder at the time, the New York Post reported. Westbrook also underwent two surgeries. These were to repair a torn ligament in his left hand and an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. Both were pretty banged up last season and the preliminary belief was for both to bounce back strong. Unknown to most, this was going to happen but on different teams.

Westbrook, now with the Houston Rockets, was initially said to be returning to basketball activities in three weeks. But the case seems to be different for George who may reportedly miss the start of the regular season. League sources tell Jovan Buha of The Athletic said that there is no timetable on the return of 10th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft and the consensus is that he is expected to miss some games.

"The recovery process from surgery is rarely linear — there can be unforeseen setbacks or progress in the process. There’s enough time — almost two months until he’ll be re-evaluated — for things to change for George. We’ll have a better idea around the start of training camp in late September," said Buha.

Hence, the full firepower of the Clippers may not be seen until George and Leonard actually take the floor at the same time. It also means that the latter will have to carry the load for the Clippers in the early goings. But if one is to look at the frontline of the Clippers, Rivers should have little to no problem making adjustments as he buys his prized recruit some time.

Maurice Harkless, Montrezl Harrell, and Terrence Mann could rise to the occasion and deliver quality minutes. Lou Williams could also play a little bit of small forward in the early goings, depending on how Rivers maximizes his roster before George is ready to suit up and buckle down to work.