TITLE: Injury Woes Continue for Grizzlies; Pelicans Clear Derik Queen; Clippers Set Opening Roster
SLUG: grizzlies-pippen-injury-pelicans-queen-cleared-clippers-roster
CONTENT:
The Memphis Grizzlies lost another backcourt contributor, the New Orleans Pelicans regained a first-round pick, and the Los Angeles Clippers trimmed their roster ahead of opening night.
Grizzlies
Guard Scotty Pippen Jr. will have surgery on his left big toe and is expected to be out until at least January, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The procedure adds to a mounting injury list in Memphis:
- Second-year center Zach Edey is still rehabbing from ankle surgery.
- Forward Brandon Clarke recently underwent a knee procedure.
- Ja Morant is working back from a sprained left ankle but is “progressing really well,” with optimism he will be ready for the season opener.
- Jaren Jackson Jr., who had offseason turf-toe surgery, is expected to start after appearing in the final two preseason games.
Pippen averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 assists in 79 games last season. With both Pippen and Ty Jerome (calf) sidelined, head coach Taylor Jenkins is likely to call on Cam Spencer and rookie two-way guard Javon Small for early-season minutes. Memphis has already released its opening-night roster.
Pelicans
Rookie center Derik Queen has been fully cleared for basketball activities after July wrist surgery, the team announced. Head coach Willie Green said Queen participated fully in Saturday’s practice but emphasized that the staff will bring him along cautiously.
Selected 13th overall, the 20-year-old joined New Orleans after the Pelicans traded the No. 23 pick and a 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta. The Maryland product averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in college and is expected to enter the frontcourt rotation once he reaches game conditioning.
Clippers
The Clippers finalized their regular-season roster by waiving Jason Preston, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and TyTy Washington Jr. and converting undrafted forward Jahmyl Telfort to a two-way contract, The Athletic’s Law Murray reported.
Telfort, who averaged 16.0 points and 4.7 rebounds last season at Butler, impressed coaches with his defense and court awareness during training camp. He joins Jordan Miller and Mouhamed Gueye as the club’s two-way players.
Preston, Baldwin, and Washington remain eligible for Exhibit 10 bonuses of $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the G League’s San Diego Clippers. Los Angeles will open the season with 14 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, keeping the team just under the hard cap.
Source: Hoops Wire
