The New Orleans Pelicans may be close to getting a major boost in the middle.
Center Yves Missi was cleared Thursday to get back to on-court work and took part in a light practice, a significant step as he works his way back from a left knee bruise. Missi said he’s already been ramping up the movement side of things.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Missi said after practice. “The past two days I’ve been running and jumping.”
Missi hasn’t played since the second game of the season, when he was hurt against the Utah Jazz. The injury came with 6:24 left in the second quarter after Zion Williamson appeared to fall into Missi’s knee. Missi had to be helped to the locker room and has now missed the last 10 games.
For now, the Pelicans aren’t putting a date on his return.
“No timeline,” said Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley. “He’ll be day-to-day to see how he responds to the treatment after today.”
That’s a tough absence for New Orleans, especially considering how productive Missi was before the injury. In just 40 minutes across his first two games, he went 8 of 9 from the field and piled up 19 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocked shots.
The frustration has been real for Missi, who played in 73 games as a rookie and 66 last season.
“Frustrating,” Missi said. “It’s been super frustrating, but just trying to cheer for my guys.”
The Pelicans enter Friday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 4-8 and are carrying a four-game losing streak. They’ve also been outscored by 101 points over the past three games, which only sharpens the need for help from a player like Missi.
Mosley made clear what the Pelicans are missing while he’s out.
“You talk about the defensive side of the ball and trying to get him to be more of the Defensive Player of the Year (type player),” Mosley said. “The rim protection, the ability to talk and switch different positions. It’ll help out a ton to get him out on the floor.”
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