Okay, the Washington Wizards lost their first preseason game in Dallas to the Mavericks last night, but don’t worry about that because it isn’t important. Instead, worry about this:
Center Brendan Haywood, who has been out since injuring his right wrist last Thursday, will have the wrist examined by a hand specialist in New York on Wednesday.
The injury was originally diagnosed as a sprain but Haywood, who shoots with his right hand, has continued to experience pain and discomfort in the wrist area.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Haywood was examined by another specialist Tuesday and that doctor advised him to undergo a surgical procedure that would force him to miss four to six months.
Also according to the source, Haywood will elect to undergo the surgery immediately if Wednesday’s examination leads to a similar diagnosis.
“The decision hasn’t been made yet but we’ll know more,” Wednesday, said the source. “The best-case scenario is that he won’t need the surgery and he’ll be out for a couple of weeks. The worst-case scenario is that he needs the surgery and he’ll miss four to six months.”
Okay, got that? The team is already missing Gilbert Arenas, starting point guard and leading scorer. Now, they face the possibility of losing its starting center and top defensive player by a wide margin. The Wizards proved last year that they can win more than half their games without Gilbert Arenas, but doing so without Arenas AND Haywood would be bridge too far.
And then there is this:
The team received another scare during the first quarter Tuesday night when all-star forward Antawn Jamison went down with a strained patella tendon in his right knee. Jamison, who did not return to the game, was defending Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and his right leg appeared to buckle as he planted his right foot.
Jamison dropped to the court in obvious agony while clutching his right knee. He was helped to the locker room by teammates and an athletic trainer. Jamison, who signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension in July, flew with the team to Memphis and will undergo an MRI exam Wednesday.
“It was a scary moment, and it hurt really bad at first,” Jamison said. “But once I got back [to the locker room] and got some ice on it, I actually don’t feel any pain right now, so that’s a good sign. We’ll have to wait and see what the MRI says [today], but I think I’m going to be fine.”
I suppose there could be worst starts to the season for the Wizards, but none spring to mind immediately. Strap yourselves in, Wizards fans. This could be a very rocky ride.
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