Derrick Jones Jr. has been out due to a right knee sprain since November 16 against the Boston Celtics
No team in the NBA needs a win more desperately than the LA Clippers. After starting their season 3-2, the team has found themselves going 3-19 and losing 19 of their last 22 games.
The team's misfortune started with Kawhi Leonard getting injured with an ankle and foot sprain against the Miami Heat on November 2. Then, five days after Leonard injured his ankle, Bradley Beal fractured his hip. Shortly thereafter, Beal was ruled out of the season. Eight days after Beal's injury, Derrick Jones Jr. suffered an MCL sprain on November 16.
Then, four days later, Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a hip injury that kept him out of numerous games.
While the Clippers have had both Kawhi Leonard and Bogdan Bogdanovic return, it hasn't been enough for the team in what seems to be a nightmare season. Fortunately, it looks like LA will have a little more help, which is more than needed.
Ty Lue's Update on Derrick Jones Jr.
Before the Clippers faced off against the Lakers on Saturday night, head coach Ty Lue provided an update on injured forward Derrick Jones Jr.
Lue revealed that Jones Jr. has progressed to 5-on-5s and Lue hopes that he'll return soon.
On November 16, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Jones Jr. would be re-evaluated in six weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Since that day, it's officially been five weeks since Jones Jr.'s injury diagnosis. If the team is expecting him to return soon, it could be around when the Clippers face the Detroit Pistons on December 28.
How Can Derrick Jones Jr. Impact the Clippers?
Through 13 games this season, Derrick Jones Jr. averaged 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks on 53/35/79 shooting from the field. Lue mentioned that when Jones returns, he will be a starter again, so one would imagine that he'll be replacing Kris Dunn in the starting lineup.
The Clippers have been desperately lacking in both the rebounding and transition defense departments. With Derrick Jones Jr. back in the lineup, he could be a decent solution to fixing both of those issues. However, at the same time, the Clippers could be so far down the rabbit hole of losing that it won't even matter anymore.
Hopefully, the Clippers can figure out a way to stay alive until Derrick Jones Jr. returns; otherwise, their season may already be over by the time the holidays end.