Shaun Livingston Is Almost Back

Earlier this summer, Shawn Livingston seemed a long ways away from making a return to the NBA. As recent as June, he wasn't able to work out on consecutive days and was limited to non-contact drills. Now? Steve Kyler from HOOPSWORLD has an update:

Livingston has been playing full contact, full court basketball in Chicago under the guidance of NBA trainer Tim Grover, and is said to be getting his explosiveness and swagger back. Supposedly Shaun is dunking the ball and attacking the basket against NBA guys in Chicago. In all fairness, those who have seen him say he's not back to a 100%, but is closer to 75% to 80%.

So how soon until he regains that extra 25%? Grover told the Orange County Register on Friday that Livingston will be ready for training camp. Of course, there's still that little matter of an NBA team actually inviting Livingston to camp, but it seems like Livingston is confident that won't be a problem.

The Clippers renounced Livingston's rights earlier this summer, but that was strictly a financial decision to save the team $5.8 million. According to the LA Times (via Clips Nation), the Clippers actually wanted to bring Livingston back and offered a guaranteed contract worth the league minimum. It was only after he rejected that deal that the team closed the door on his return by signing Jason Williams.

There's no way that Livingston would have left money on the table if he didn't think more (and potentially better) offers would be on the horizon. If he's truly regained his swagger against NBA talent, the word will get out, and his contract situation will take care of itself.