LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Clippers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the start of the season with a partially torn left Achilles tendon, delaying his debut after arriving as the marquee return in the Kawhi Leonard trade to the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers announced the injury Monday, Sept. 28 at media day, outlining a recovery timeline of around six months that could see Ingram available in late October or November. Los Angeles opens its season Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings.
Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden disclosed the injury to reporters on site, saying the partial tear was revealed during a May surgery to repair an issue with his heel. The team said the recovery for a partially torn Achilles is not as intensive as a full tear and should take about six months. Ingram will be reevaluated then and the team will make a determination on his return, should he avoid any setbacks.
Ingram, 29, played 77 regular-season games last season for the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. His heel injury limited his availability during Toronto's first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played only 11:22 in Game 5 and then missed Games 6 and 7 as Cleveland clinched the series.
Although the trade for Ingram had been agreed to June 30, it remained on hold for more than a month while the investigation into Leonard and the Clippers regarding alleged salary cap circumvention had not been finalized. The deal was eventually executed Sept. 14, formally sending Leonard to Toronto and Ingram to Los Angeles.