Max Strus Returns to Clippers Lineup, But Ty Lue is Keeping the Training Wheels On

Max Strus is finally back on the floor for the Los Angeles Clippers, but if you were hoping for a full workload right out of the gate, you might want to adjust your expectations.

Coach Ty Lue confirmed that Strus will be on a strict minutes limit this Monday as he works his way back into the rotation.

"Underdog NBA reported: 'Lineup alert: Max Strus (foot) will have a minutes limit Monday, per coach Lue.'"

A partial tear of the plantar fascia sounds like something you get from wearing bad dress shoes to a wedding, but in the NBA, it is a guaranteed multi-week sentence. Strus has been sidelined for over a month since suffering the injury in the preseason, leaving a massive spacing void in the Los Angeles offense.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors who have been eagerly stashing him, this is the classic trap game. A minutes limit means you are banking on him getting incredibly hot in a very short window, which is basically asking a guy to sprint a marathon after sitting on the couch for six weeks.

The Clippers desperately need his shooting to open up the floor, but rushing him back makes zero sense. Foot injuries are notoriously tricky for shooters who rely on constant movement, and one bad plant can reset the entire recovery clock.

Keep an eye on how he moves in his limited run on Monday. If he looks comfortable and avoids any setbacks, we could see the training wheels come off later this week. Until then, treat his stat line like a preseason box score.