Pistons swingman Luke Kennard is expected to miss another month due to bilateral knee tendinitis, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.
Coach Dwane Casey made the announcement prior to the team’s overtime loss to New Orleans on Monday. Kennard, the team’s top perimeter shooter, has missed 11 consecutive games.
“They said somewhere around All-Star break,” Casey said. “He’s working his behind off and (has) tendinitis, or whatever, I don’t even know the medical term for it. We’ve had so many injuries I get this guy’s injuries mixed up with that guy’s injuries. Just hope you have him healthy because he’s a big piece of what we’re trying to do also and this would be a valuable time for him, for us, if he’s able to go.”
The Pistons announced on December 26 that Kennard would miss two weeks due to bilateral knee tendinitis and would be re-evaluated on January 7. This is the first update on his condition since that point.
The Pistons have 16 more games prior to the All-Star break. His extended absence could kill any trade talk regarding the third-year player out of Duke. The Sixers were reportedly interested in him.
Kennard got off to a hot start, including a 30-point game in the season opener against Indiana. His averages dropped as the knee issues set in but he was still averaging career highs in points (15.8 PPG) and assists (4.1 APG) when he was sidelined.
The Pistons are also down two other starters. Their star forward Blake Griffin could miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery this month. Point guard Reggie Jackson (back) has only played two games this season.
Best way to not get traded is stay injured. – Markelle Fultz