Just days after reports suggested that Clippers guard Shaun Livingston had been making steady progress, Marc Spears of the Boston Globe writes that the Clippers are unlikely to send the injury-plagued guard the qualifying offer this summer.

It's not always best to take need over talent in the NBA draft, but with long-term concerns over injured guard Shaun Livingston, it would be a shock if the Clippers didn't take a guard with the seventh pick. Livingston destroyed his left knee after landing awkwardly following a missed layup against Charlotte in February 2007, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, and the lateral meniscus. The fourth overall pick in 2004 missed last season and it's uncertain when he will play again. An NBA source said the Clippers aren't expected to make Livingston a qualifying offer (the lowest starts at $5.8 million), making him an unrestricted free agent July 1. But with major knee concerns, it's uncertain the Clippers, or any team, will be rushing to sign him. According to the source, Livingston can't work out back-to-back days and needs about 90 minutes of therapy before doing noncontact basketball drills. There is speculation he might not be able to play at the NBA level again. What made Livingston special: he is a point guard with Magic Johnson-like height, at 6 feet 7 inches. But if he returns without his spectacular quickness, he could move to the small forward position.

Let's also note that the Clippers declining Livingston's option does not necessarily mean that he is done in Los Angeles. It could merely mean that Elgin Baylor and the gang are reluctant to shell out over $5 million to a player who has as much of a chance of becoming a failure than becoming a recovery success story... if not more of a chance.

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Anybody with half of a heart wishes Livingston luck. Let's hope the multi-talented 6′7′' guard can indeed develop a heart-warming story to get his career back on the right track.