Clippers' Ingram, key return in Kawhi trade, out after Achilles, heel surgery

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  Ben GolliverSep 28, 2026, 02:24 PM ET

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  Ben Golliver is a senior NBA writer who joined ESPN in May 2026.

  Prior to joining ESPN, Golliver covered the NBA on a national level since 2010 for The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports. He is the author of Bubbleball, an account of his 93-day stay at the NBA's "Bubble" in Disney World during the coronavirus pandemic. He is based in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES -- Clippers forward Brandon Ingram will not be available to start the 2026-27 season as he recovers from a surgery that addressed a right heel injury and partially torn Achilles tendon.

Interim general manager Trent Redden said at Clippers media day on Monday that doctors discovered and addressed the previously undisclosed Achilles injury while Ingram underwent surgery on his heel in May.

Ingram, 29, has no timetable for a return to the court, but Redden noted that the recovery time for a partially torn Achilles tendon is "about six months less" than a fully torn Achilles. Ingram missed the final two games of the Raptors' first-round series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers due to the heel injury before undergoing surgery.

The Clippers acquired Ingram and guard Gradey Dick from the Toronto Raptors in a trade for Kawhi Leonard earlier this month.

"It wasn't until we got our hands on [Ingram] here that we started to see where he was at with his progression," Redden said. "He won't be ready for the start of the season, and we'll reevaluate when we get there."

Redden also said that Clippers guard Bradley Beal is dealing with right knee inflammation after undergoing surgery on his left hip and won't be available for the start of training camp.

Ingram, a two-time All-Star, averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Raptors last season. Once he returns to the court, Ingram projects as the leading scoring option for the new-look Clippers.

"Whenever [Ingram] comes back, when he gets out there, I think our pick and roll will be the number one thing we go to," Clippers guard Darius Garland said. "I think that can be really nasty. ... He's super crafty. I'm super excited to play with him for sure."

Ingram is on the Clippers' books for $40 million this season and holds a $41.9 million player option for the 2027-28 season.