Clippers considering using Kawhi Leonard off bench

Leonard has had a range of health problems in the past few years, ranging from a severe ankle sprian (thanks, Zaza Pachulia) quadriceps tendinopathy to his ACL tear against the Jazz. That, plus an abundance of caution, has limited Leonard to just 109 games in his Clippers career, as the team understandably tries to keep him fresh for the postseason. When he’s been on the court, Leonard has dominated, averaging 26 points, 6.8 rebounds, and five assists per game as a Clipper, shooting 49% from the floor and 39% from three-point range.

And the Clippers are an extremely deep team, well-equipped to handle the King of Load Management’s absences or limited minutes. Reserve Nic Batum has started over 800 games in his NBA career, and Norman Powell has started nearly 200. They also have Terance Mann and Luke Kennard, both highly capable role players, so the Clippers can cover wing spots if Leonard or Paul George miss time. Plus, separating George and Leonard’s minutes ensures the Clippers can always have an All-Star on the court leading the offense.

Is this a guarantee against injury? Of course not. Noted medical expert Russell Westbrook blamed a hamstring injury that took him out of the Lakers’ final preseason game was the result of his coming off the bench.

Thankfully, Westbrook was able to return from his devastating hamstring tweak to play 31 minutes on opening night, probably because he was back in the starting lineup.

Leonard hasn’t come off the bench since early in his third season, when he wasn’t in the starting lineup for a single game on November 10, 2013. For his career, he’s started 549 out of 576 games, all but two of those bench appearances taking place his rookie year. If the Clippers indeed bring Kawhi off the bench throughout the season, Leonard would have to be considered the favorite for Sixth Man of the Year, and the most over-qualified candidate for that award in NBA history.