Team USA's Decision to Replace Kawhi Leonard on Roster Disappoints Clippers President

The decision by USA Basketball to replace Kawhi Leonard prior to the Paris Olympics will allow him to rest up for the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, but Clippers president Lawrence Frank still isn't happy about it.

"It was USAB's call, and I was, quite frankly, very disappointed with the decision," Frank told reporters on Monday. "Kawhi wanted to play, we wanted him to play."

Leonard missed 12 of the final 14 games for the Clippers this past season due to right knee inflammation. Still, he practiced with Team USA in Las Vegas for three days before it was determined that he would be replaced with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete," USA Basketball said at the time. "However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it's in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris."

Frank attended two of the three practices, and Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue is a member of the Team USA coaching staff under Steve Kerr. Frank added that he felt Leonard deserved more of a chance to prove he'd be ready for the Paris Games, which would've been the first Olympics of his career.

"I expressed to them that I really wish they would've given Kawhi more time. ... He looked good to me. I know all the sacrifices he made in order to make this commitment to the Olympics, so it was very disappointing," Frank said.

Team USA is also working through the absence of star forward Kevin Durant, who is nursing a calf strain. Frank said he understands USA Basketball had to do what's best for the team and he will be rooting for Team USA to take home the gold medal, but he's still disappointed for Leonard.