Clippers 'very disappointed' Team USA replaced Kawhi Leonard - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — LA Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said the team was «very disappointed» with USA Basketball's decision to replace Kawhi Leonard on the Olympic team roster last week.

In a statement released last Wednesday, USA Basketball implied that Leonard wasn't on the team in a move that was influenced by the Clippers and Team USA officials after seeing how the two-time Finals MVP was moving and playing during USA Basketball's camp in Las Vegas last week.

Frank said Leonard did not suffer a setback with his surgically repaired right knee. USA Basketball replaced Leonard's roster spot with Boston's Derrick White.

«No, it was USAB's call and I was quite frankly very disappointed with the decision,» Frank said. «Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play. I was there the first two practices, he looked very good. Was a full participant in everything that they did. I wasn't there for the third practice where ultimately that was the point where they decided to go in a different direction [last Wednesday].

»I expressed to them I really wish that they would've given Kawhi more time."

Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. He returned to play in Games 2 and 3 before missing the remaining three games of the first-round series loss to Dallas.

Frank was asked if Leonard underwent any type of procedures or treatment to his right knee before USA Basketball camp.

«I'm not going to get into the specifics of kind of what's been happening,» Frank said. «All I'll tell you is that he spent a great deal of time getting ready for this. He had a really solid progression. He looked good in the practices.»

Leonard said he was able to get his