Agents often have the ear of their clients, giving the player advice on when to push through an injury and when to shut it down.
With the rash of injuries the Clippers have, Coach Mike Dunleavy wondered what role, if any, the agents for the team's injured players have had in the players returning later rather than sooner. "When guys get injured, typically you have agents that are going to tell them, 'There's no reason to hurry back. Make sure you're 110% healthy before you come back,' " said Dunleavy, also the team's general manager. "I think that's one of the things you have to try and guard against. We don't ever want anybody coming back that has a chance of injuring themselves."
Baron Davis (bruised tailbone), Zach Randolph (sore left knee), Jason Hart (right elbow tendinitis), Chris Kaman (strained left arch), Mike Taylor (fractured right thumb) and Ricky Davis (sore left knee) all have timetables that may not be met because of the reason Dunleavy outlined.
And Fred Jones, who was thrust into the role of starting point guard Sunday, sprained his right foot in the first quarter.
Brian Skinner played with a leg bruise, Hart had an MRI exam Saturday that was negative and Randolph won't make the three-game trip that starts Tuesday in Dallas and could be out another two weeks.
Dunleavy says Kaman will get another MRI exam in 1 1/2 weeks, meaning the center will be out at least another two weeks.
Asked when he might return, Baron Davis said, "hopefully within the next couple of weeks."
Suspension starts
The Clippers activated Ricky Davis, which meant he began serving his five-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug program.
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broderick.turner@latimes.com
