Norman Powell played only a couple of games with the Los Angeles Clippers before the swingman suffered a foot injury that puts the rest of his season in jeopardy.
Powell suffered a fractured left foot when he injured the fractured medial sesamoid bone against the Dallas Mavs last week. He’s most likely out for the rest of the season, but the door is open for him to return in the postseason.
The Clippers (29-30) currently occupy the #8 seed in the Western Conference standings. They’re 18.5 games out of first place, but hold a two-game edge over the struggling LA Lakers (26-31) in the #9 seed.
Powell looked good with his new team. In just three games in a Clippers uniform, Powell averaged 21 points and four assists per game, while shooting 43% from 3-point range. He also has a knack for getting to the free-throw line, which is something the Clippers lacked. Powell averaged 6.7 free throws per game since joining the team.
The injury bad beats continue for the Clippers after they sent Powell to the injured list. The Clippers do not have their All-Stars because Paul George is out indefinitely with an elbow injury, and Kawhi Leonard continues to rehab his knee after ACL surgery.
The Clippers are +6000 odds to win the 2022 NBA Championship, but they’re a long shot at best. They’re most likely headed to a first-round exit against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference playoffs.
Clippers Get Powell After Rip City Reboot
The Clippers acquired Powell from the Portland Trail Blazers after they had a fire sale shortly before the trade deadline. The Trail Blazers shook up their team and ditched everyone except Damian Lillard, who is sidelined while recovering from stomach surgery. That included trading away their top shooters in CJ McCollum and Powell.
The Clippers/Trail Blazers deal for Powell involved five players. The Blazers sent Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a second-round draft pick.
Powell averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with the Trail Blazers before they traded him. He also shot a tick above 40% from 3-point range.
With the addition of Powell, the Clippers had the opportunity to add a wingman that could light it up from downtown. Powell also has postseason experience and close ties to Kawhi. He won a championship with Kawhi and the Toronto Raptors back in 2019. The ex-teammates will be reunited whenever Kawhi returns to the court, which the Clippers hope could be as soon as the postseason.
According to one report, the average time loss for a fractured medial sesamoid bone is approximately 20 games. If Powell heals up quickly, he could return in time for the playoffs.
Terance Mann is the next man up for the Clippers and will start in his place for the immediate future.