Clippers all the stars James Harden He was severely criticized for another bleak factor performance Against Nags DenverBut he has a supporter in the organization.
Basketball Head Lawrence Frank You look at Harden as “a great work that leads the road” Kohi Leonard He sat the first 34 games due to the management of the right knee injuries and loved how the team responded to the 16 -year -old warrior.
Frank spoke with the correspondents at a press conference at the end of the season on Monday about the extent of Harden played in 79 games this season, where he finished fifth in the total total minutes in the American Professional League (2,789), and the fifth place in the league was in passes (8.7), with an average of 22.8 points for each game and the only player this season with 500 points, 500 passes, 100 Reds and 50 banners.
Frank did not mention how Harden was scary in the post -season, as it was only 18.7 points per game in the series Cleibers lost in front of nuggets And how only 33 points scored in games 4, 5 and 7, including seven points in the 7 game.
“When James was this year without Cohi, with Usual [Powell] and [Ivica] Zobak Frank said via Zoom because he was far from his family at New York Hospital because of a family medical case.
And in his era to provide what he did …[He played in] 79 games, and he does it again and again. We have a deep appreciation for this type of availability and that we are able to provide what he did and do … We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year. “
Cleibers Kawahi Leonard’s striker ignores against Denver Nagste in the 6th of May.
(Gina Verizy / Los Angeles Times)
Harden has a player’s option for the next season to pay 36 million dollars, and he must allow Clippers to know his decision by June 29. He can decide to subscribe, which means that he cannot get an extension, or he can cancel the subscription and work with Clippers along.
Frank said that Hardin, who will be thirty -six years old, is “the first priority of the team.”
“Now, because James has a player’s option, it will be unreasonable for me that there are no plans for emergency with her,” said Frank. “But I will enter with the intention that if he does not pick up his choice, we will be able to reach an agreement that works well with James and works well with Clippers.”
Frank was happy because Leonard was in good health after the season and that his best player had remained two years on a $ 100 million deal.
Powell, 31, remains one year for his contract for $ 20.4 million and will also be looking for an extension. Zubac begins its three -year extension for $ 58.6 million in the next season, and DERICK JONES JOR. Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all contracting and they are among the best players. Nicholas Batum has a player’s option for $ 4.9 million, but is expected to return.
Clippers will look forward to improving their team in the draft-who have the first round (29 in general) and choose the second round. They can use an exception to the unparalleled average level of $ 14.1 million per season and have trade exceptions of $ 6.5 million, 4.2 million dollars and 2.1 million dollars.
Frank said, “Do not make mistakes, we want to compete nowadays,” Frank said.
“We will also plan for the future and take the steps needed to implement it.”
Frank said that what happened in the 7 game, as Cleibers was lagging behind 35 points “very embarrassing and also moderate” for this team. But he presented some perspective in the entire season.
Clippers ended the season with 50-32, and 18 of the last 21 games won the normal season and the fifth seed was in the west.
Frank said: “Therefore, I do not want to reduce the fact that we lost in a series of seven games, and also does not share with us the truth [I’m] Very proud of the inspiring play that we had throughout the year. “
