Clippers guard J.J. Redick is out indefinitely with a back injury
Clippers starting shooting guard J.J. Redick will be out indefinitely because of a bulging disk in his lower back.
Coach Doc Rivers made the announcement Tuesday night before the Clippers played the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center.
Rivers said Redick’s injury has to “calm down” before the 6-4 guard can get his movement back.
“That could be three days, two weeks, three weeks. No one knows,” Rivers said. “There’s no set deadline on when he’s coming back. He could be back quick or it could take a while.”
Redick missed the last four games before the All-Star break with a hip injury in hopes that he could return after the break.
He has missed 21 games this season because of a fracture and torn ligaments in his right wrist. He has played with a bruised left knee, sore right shoulder and back spasms.
“I just don’t think we’re going to put him out there until he’s feeling great,” Rivers said. “Really, I just think since that fall in Sacramento (Nov. 29), it just seems like that’s what started him down this road.”
In the 30 games that Redick has played this season, he has averaged 15.7 points in 28.8 minutes.
Redick was making 45.9% of his field goals, 39.6% of his three-pointers and a team-best 91.4% of his free throws.
Rivers said Redick is having times when “he’s going down the bad road” involving his injury.
“He could wake up feeling better and then he could be back in recovery and back soon,” Rivers said. “Or it could take a while. Again, we just don’t know. I wish we did.”
Clippers eye trade deadline
Rivers said Redick’s injury doesn’t affect what the Clippers might do before Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Clippers have been looking for a starting small forward or a backup big man to play behind power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan, according to NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
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Reserve guard Willie Green, who sat out the last game with a sore right hip, suited up against the Spurs.
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