Here’s a development that could have some major implications for the playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference.
The Toronto Raptors announced on Monday that three-time All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry will have to undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his right wrist and is aiming to return by the postseason.
Kyle Lowry to undergo surgery Tuesday morning to remove loose bodies from right wrist. Aim to return for playoffs. #WeTheNorth
— RaptorsMR (@RaptorsMR) February 27, 2017
The wording of the announcement seemed to suggest that Lowry was all but done for the regular season, but Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports that he may only miss four to five weeks and could be back before the playoffs.
Sources: Lowry could return within four-to-five weeks, play regular season games prior to playoffs. https://t.co/6V5tp3eo1A
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 27, 2017
Either way, it’s a tough break for the Raptors and one that unfortunately may have been avoidable considering the circumstances surrounding the injury.
Lowry, who will turn 31 next month, is averaging 22.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game this season. Cory Joseph, a strong (albeit low-ceiling) two-way contributor, will assume starting point guard duties indefinitely, but it still may be panic time in Toronto. The injury is to Lowry’s shooting hand, which is highly concerning for a perimeter player, especially a famously streaky shooter like him. The Raptors also acquired some major pieces at the trade deadline in Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker, and Lowry’s absence means that the team won’t have all their core guys developing chemistry with one another until at least close to the playoffs, where the margin for error shrinks infinitely. Simply brutal.
