NBA News Roundup, Sunday, April 28th: Clippers lead Lakers in race for Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry injury update and more 

Due to the excitement generated by the 2019 playoffs, basketball fans are already speculating on who will be the main challengers next season. A number of high-profile stars are about to hit free agency this summer, while superstars such as Anthony Davis may be made available for trades.

NBA teams are also preparing for the upcoming draft, so with no shortage of news and rumors around the league -- here is everything you need to know for April 28th.

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Doc Rivers full of praise for his Clippers team

Doc Rivers has plenty of praise for his Clippers team despite their playoff first-round exit

The Los Angeles Clippers exited the playoffs on Friday as they lost 129-110 to the Golden State Warriors. Many had expected the Clippers to get swept by the two-time defending champions, however, Doc Rivers' starless team were able to almost push Steve Kerr's men all the way -- and Rivers is full of praise for his team:

I've never been more proud of a group of guys in the 20 years that I've coached. They were just really fun. As I've said before, I've never had a group where you wanted to, in the morning, you raced to the car, you raced to practice just because you love being around them. So for me, it was just a pleasure to coach them.

I think you could take this team and put it in every NBA city, and when they leave, every NBA city would love this team. Because the people who come to games go to work all day. And they love to see players who play like they work.

And I thought what the city saw in this team, what I saw in this team, was a hard-hat team that came to work every day. And it doesn't matter if you're blue-collar or white-collar, people appreciate workers

The Clippers will be looking to build on their excellent 18/19 season this summer as they target two superstar free-agents. Kawhi Leonard is among the names being backed to join the team.

Clippers have the upper hand to sign Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is currently staring for the Toronto Raptors

Over recent months, Kawhi Leonard has been linked with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, although Paolo Uggetti of The Ringer is reporting that the Clippers hold the advantage when it comes to signing the All-Star:

The Clippers will be able to free up cap space for two max free agents this summer, and they’ve been linked to Kawhi Leonard all season long. Leonard, of course, is still playing in Toronto, where the Raptors are hoping he can lead them to the Finals and maybe stick around long term. By all accounts, Los Angeles seems to have the upper hand but he’s not the only free agent the Clippers will be going after.

Following a dispute with the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard joined the Raptors last summer. Nevertheless, despite impressing during his time in Toronto, the All-Star is believed to want a return to his native Los Angeles.

Steph Curry and Klay Thompson questionable for Game 1

Steph Curry could miss the Golden State Warriors' series opener against the Houston Rockets

Stephen Curry turned his right ankle during the early stages of the Warriors' series-clinching win over the LA Clippers on Friday -- and head coach Steve Kerr has cast doubt on Curry's participation against the Rockets tonight:

He (Klay Thompson) and Steph (Curry) both came in this morning to get some treatment. And I haven't even spoken with Rick (Celebrini) yet today so we're upstairs watching film and getting ready. We'll see how they're doing. I'm not going to make a definitive statement on whether they'll both play -- let's just call it questionable. And there's nothing implied there; they both came in today and got some work, and we'll see how they're doing.

Klay Thompson is also a doubt due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the same game.