INGLEWOOD — Twenty-six days after an NBA investigation laid bare the Los Angeles Clippers' scheme to circumvent the salary cap by funneling extra money to Kawhi Leonard, team officials finally faced the media Monday at Intuit Dome. Interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden and coach Ty Lue entered a packed press conference room at 10:32 a.m., speaking publicly for the first time since the league fined the franchise $30 million, stripped five first-round draft picks and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year and top lieutenant Lawrence Frank. The appearance came as the Clippers prepare to fly to Maui to begin training camp, having already disbanded their superstar core to start a multi-year rebuild before the penalties landed.
Redden drew the assignment of addressing long-suffering fans in Ballmer's absence and opened with a prepared apology. "Our fans deserved to hear from us before this, and for that we're sorry," Redden said. "We've been listening, though, not just being quiet, but listening to the thoughts, the concerns, and feelings and emotions of our fan base. They mean everything to us. Their pain through this time is real, and we feel it and we hear them. We hope to fulfill our promises to them to build their trust moving forward." Lue, now entering his seventh season as Clippers coach, said he never considered leaving after the sanctions. "Ballmer has been tremendous to me," Lue said. "So my loyalty to him is to the end."
Redden also delivered bleak injury updates that make a play-in push even more unlikely. All-Star Brandon Ingram, the centerpiece of the return from the trade that sent Leonard to Toronto, will miss the start of the season after doctors discovered a partially torn Achilles tendon last May while performing surgery for a right heel injury. There is no timetable for his return, though Redden said recovery typically takes six months less than a full Achilles tear. "He won't be ready for the start of the season," Redden said. "We'll reevaluate when we get there." Ingram described his rehab as a "week-by-week thing" and said he is already doing some on-court workouts. "I feel good about the spot that I'm in right now," Ingram said. "I won't be participating in training camp much, but I'll be out there a little bit."
The Clippers also ruled out center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (foot) for opening night, said guard Bradley Beal's knee inflammation will prevent him from participating at the start of camp, and said guard Jordan Miller (shoulder) will be reevaluated in five months. Without Ingram there is no obvious replacement at small forward, and the team will lean heavily on 38-year-old Brook Lopez at center until Konan Niederhäuser returns. Asked why betrayed fans should stick with the team, Redden cited resilience. "What kept you a Clippers fan during all that time, I hope we still embody that," Redden said. "There's a competitiveness, a grit, a spirit, a fight that we still have." Players insisted morale remains high. "I know there's little-to-no expectations for us this year, but we have enough in the building to compete," Ingram said. Added guard Darius Garland: "The vibes are immaculate right now."
Despite the harshest punishment the NBA has ever handed down, Redden pointed to reasons for long-term optimism. The Clippers still have June top-five pick Keaton Wagler, the two first-round picks acquired in the Leonard deal, significant salary cap flexibility beginning in two years, an elite coach, a deep front office and a stunning new arena in a destination city backed by the richest owner in sports. That context follows Brandon Ingram's Achilles injury delays his Clippers debut after the Toronto trade. "Yeah, we're going through some challenges right now," Redden said. "Wouldn't be the first time the Clippers went through challenges."