Acquired from the Toronto Raptors in the Kawhi Leonard trade earlier this month, two-time All-Star forward Brandon Ingram will miss the start of the Los Angeles Clippers’ season while recovering from surgery on his right heel and a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Ingram underwent surgery on his right heel in May, which is when doctors noticed and addressed the Achilles tendon issue, according to Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden at media day Monday.
While there is no timetable set for Ingram’s return, Redden said the recovery time for the forward’s partially torn Achilles tendon is “about six months less” than if it was fully torn.
Ingram, who was acquired along with guard Gradey Dick in the trade, underwent surgery after missing the last two games of Toronto’s first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It wasn’t until we got our hands on (Ingram) here that we started to see where he was at with his progression,” Redden said. “He won’t be ready for the start of the season, and we’ll reevaluate when we get there.”
Speaking at media day, the 29-year-old Ingram said his rehabilitation is going smoothly and called his timeline a “week-by-week thing.”
“I’m doing well in my recovery,” the 10-year veteran said. “I’m coming along. I’ve been in the facility for a little more than a month now. Getting on the court a little bit and getting stronger.
“I had been dealing with some pain throughout the year with the Raptors and especially coming down in crunch time. I didn’t quite know what it was. Near the end of the season, we figured out what it was. We thought surgery was the best thing to do.”
Slated to earn $40 million this season, Ingram holds a player option worth $41.9 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
Projected to be the revamped Clippers’ top scorer once he returns, Ingram is coming off an All-Star season in which he averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 77 games for the Raptors.
Los Angeles guard Darius Garland is eager for Ingram to return to the court, calling him “super crafty.”
“Whenever (Ingram) comes back, when he gets out there, I think our pick-and-roll will be the No. 1 thing we go to,” Garland said at media day. “I think that can be really nasty.”
Guard Bradley Beal will not begin training camp on time, Redden said, as the three-time All-Star is dealing with right knee inflammation following left hip surgery.
–Field Level Media
