If you were hoping that the latest MRI on Paul George’s elbow would reveal a definitive course of action, well, sorry.
He remains out due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and while it is getting better he is not ready to return, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said (via Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points).
“He’s feeling better, making good progress, but he’s gonna need a little bit more time.”
That’s vague, so Azarly did a little more digging and that didn’t exactly lead to answers.
Essentially, it's not good or bad news for Paul George.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 26, 2022
I asked, and the term 'setback' was not accurate regarding PG's progress, but my understanding is he hasn't made as much progress as the Clippers have hoped. https://t.co/Wivl7uH2oJ
At this point, it’s hard to imagine George — or Kawhi Leonard, for that matter — returning to the Clippers this season. The Clippers at 31-31 sit a solid eighth in the West, locked into the play-in (five games back of the sixth seed Nuggets), meaning even if they advance they will have an arduous path out of the first round (the Suns or Warriors in the first round). The more likely path forward is to bring everyone back fully healthy next season.
The Clippers are 14-16 since George went out, which is impressive considering how much George meant to the team. He was playing at an All-NBA level before his injury, averaging 27.4 points per game, with 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists a night.
