LOS ANGELES -- Charlotte Bobcats reserve forward Adam Morrison is likely done for the season after an MRI exam on Sunday
revealed a torn ligament in his left knee.
The injury occurred with about 5½ minutes left in the third
quarter of Saturday night's 113-93 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Morrison was attempting to defend Luke Walton on a drive to the
basket and crumpled to the floor in severe pain while clutching his
left knee.
"Our medical staff has had a chance to review the MRI, and
they're saying right now they believe there is some sort of tear,"
coach Sam Vincent said Sunday, about an hour before the Bobcats
took on Phoenix in the second day of the annual Staples Center
shootout.
"Until they get in there and do whatever they do, who knows?
But they are saying there's a good chance he will be out for the
year. So I'm not counting on him playing," Vincent added.
Morrison, the third overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, was the
top scorer in college basketball two seasons ago with Gonzaga --
averaging 28.1 points. As an NBA rookie, he averaged 11.8 points in
78 games. He was expected to play a significant role in a smaller
lineup Vincent was going to employ once the season began. As one of
the first two players off the bench, Morrison was expected to play
about 20-25 minutes a game and contribute 14-16 points.
"I talked to him before the coaches and players meeting this
morning when he had just gotten back from taking the MRI, and he
pretty much knew the results," Vincent said. "He's obviously
down."
Morrison remained at the team's hotel Sunday. He will fly back
to Charlotte with his teammates on Monday and be re-examined by
team physician Dr. Glenn Perry. A date for surgery will be
determined once the swelling in Morrison's knee subsides.
"It's disappointing with Adam going down -- especially because
he's been putting so much effort in during the summer, trying to
pick up our system and improve his defense," said Vincent, who
will distribute Morrison's minutes among Derek Anderson, Walter Hermann and Matt Carroll.
Morrison is being paid nearly $3.25 million this season after
making $3 last season under terms of the NBA's rookie pay scale.
The team has the option to renew the contract in years three and
four of the deal.