Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich indicated earlier Wednesday that he would be surprised if Leonard returned this season and this latest update only further muddies the situation. According to Wojnarowski, Leonard has been medically cleared for a return, so the fact that he's opting not to play appears to be a pain tolerance issue. 

While coach Popovich said he didn't expect Leonard back, he did leave open the possibility. "We only have X number of games left in the season, and he's still not ready to go. If by some chance he is, it's gonna be pretty late into the season and it's going to be a pretty tough decision; how late to bring somebody back. So that's why I'm just trying to be honest and logical. I'll be surprised if he gets back this year." Considering the situation, fantasy owners may want to hold on to Leonard for now until more clarification is provided.


The injury, rehabilitation and timetable for a return has complicated the Spurs' and Leonard's relationship, causing tension and fraying the fabric of what was once a strong partnership, league sources told ESPN. The uncertainty surrounding this season -- and Leonard's future, which could include free agency in the summer of 2019 -- has inspired a palpable stress around the organization, league sources said.

“I’ll be surprised if he returns this season,” Pop said. “Well, we only have X number of games left in the season, and he’s still not ready to go. If by some chance he is, it’s gonna be pretty late into the season; and it’s going to be a pretty tough decision -- how late to bring somebody back. So that’s why I’m just trying to be honest and logical. I’ll be surprised if he gets back this year.”


Source: https://goo.gl/EgtF5r