Mason Plumlee will be sidelined for “multiple months” with a left knee MCL sprain he suffered this week, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link). The Clippers are optimistic that Plumlee will be able to return sometime before the end of the season, Charania adds.
The team is considering several veteran big men as potential replacements, Charania hears, including Pacers backup center Daniel Theis.
Plumlee suffered the injury Monday when Knicks forward Julius Randle hit his knee while diving for a ball. Plumlee couldn’t put any weight on the knee and had to be helped off the court by two members of the team’s training staff.
The 33-year-center had appeared in all six of L.A.’s games before the injury and was averaging 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17 minutes per night. The Clippers acquired him from Charlotte in a February trade, and he re-signed with the team this summer.
Theis, who hasn’t played yet this season, expressed unhappiness with his situation in Indiana last week. He is currently fourth among centers on the Pacers’ depth chart and doesn’t appear to have a future with the team.
After playing just 11 games last season, Theis was hoping for an expanded role following his performance with Germany in the World Cup this summer, but it looks like a trade is the only way that will happen.
Any deal sending Theis to the Clippers would require a third team to be involved due to cap restrictions, tweets Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Theis makes $9.1M this season, and his contract includes a $9.5M team option for 2024/25.
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