Raef Did It

by Ben Golliver on Sep 26, 2008 4:55 PM PDT

From the Blazers...

LaFRENTZ UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers announced that center/forward Raef LaFrentz underwent arthroscopic surgery today to repair a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, Calif.

LaFrentz, who sustained the injury during Portland's game at Seattle on February 22, 2008, is expected to be out 6-8 months.

Hearty congratulations to both Raef and the doctor.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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Get well soon Raef!

Oden is going to get bored posterizing Hill/Pryz in practice.

by BlazerD on Sep 26, 2008 4:58 PM PDT reply actions

Dr. Neal, Dr. Neal!

Please re-Attrache Me!

by two4larue on Sep 26, 2008 5:00 PM PDT reply actions

I can’t help but wonder if Raef has played his last game though. He’ll be healed near the end of the season, it’s possible he won’t get activated at all, and there’s the chance he won’t be offered another contract.

It’s a real shame his career had such problems.

by Timmay! on Sep 26, 2008 5:09 PM PDT reply actions

Raef

Will never play for the Blazers again, and probably no other NBA team

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons

by johnv59 on Sep 26, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Slightly OT: Did you ever notice all player surgeries are successful? At least according to the initial press releases?

I never read “unfortunately the doctor realized he couldn’t fix the problem and sewed him back together without performing the procedure”, “his knee looked bad”, “we fear this surgery won’t be the last” or something like this. Unless the patient would die on the operating table (or it’s at least really horrible like the Shaun Livingston accident), they would probably always release a highly positive note. Gilbert Arenas had multiple procedures for the same issue that were all “successful”. Without looking it up, I bet Darius’ micro fracture surgery was deemed “successful”. I know these releases are required by the NBA, but they are pretty useless in determining the real outlook for an athlete/patient.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 26, 2008 5:17 PM PDT reply actions

The cat-scans were "negative"

I’ve always interpreted this as “no brain activity was found”

by two4larue on Sep 29, 2008 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions

um....I hate to be the guy, given the conditions but, can't we get some sort of "extra" roster spot out of this?

I'VE NO PROOF. NONE. NADA. I BASE MY OPINION ON FAITH AND FATE ALONE. BEFORE IT'S DOUBTED AND THROWN UNDER THE RUG, READ THIS AND TELL ME FATE DOES NOT EXIST.

May 23, 2006
"And come on now, really...had we gotten the #1 selection would we have been happy or just talking about how our cursed luck continues because this is the first year that high schoolers (and thus Greg Oden) aren't allowed in the draft? Save it for next year guys...save it for next year."
--Dave

a tribute to what it was, and the way it is. Mad respect Dave.

by faith on Sep 26, 2008 6:16 PM PDT reply actions

6-8 months = extra roster spot...

Why would the Blazers NOT cut him?

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Sep 26, 2008 7:28 PM PDT reply actions

RLEC

by grimc on Sep 26, 2008 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think expiring contracts have value, unless you wanna sign someone like Shaq last year who had an extra year remaining at a bloated price...

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Sep 26, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

On the other hand, they could easily cut him later if the need arises

So there’s no need to cut him now. Sure they could grab an extra player, but he’d ride the bench anyway, and this leaves more options open.

by Timmay! on Sep 26, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

After this season's trade deadline, ...

Raef LaFrentz will probably be cut if he’s not dealt elsewhere.

For the stretch run, the Portland Trail Blazers could fill out its roster with a useful castoff from another squad. Last season, those type of guys included guys like Brent Barry, Ira Newble, Jamaal Magloire, Sam Cassell, Theo Ratliff, and Tyronn Lue.

by AK1984 on Sep 26, 2008 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly.

Once the trade deadline passes, if Raef is still with the team, he’ll probably be expecting the phone call from KP.

by Timmay! on Sep 26, 2008 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Yerp yerp.

That’d be the conclusion.

"Mister Oden is a very, very big human being." - Jerryd Bayless

by QualityPie on Sep 27, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Raef LaFrentz's ...

expiring contract has a $12,722,500 salary for this season; thus, he’ll have a spot on the 15-man roster — albeit on the inactive list — solely for financial flexibility in any potential trades down the line.

by AK1984 on Sep 26, 2008 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Right

Even if we cut Raef, we don’t have cap space (thank you, Steve Francis) this year. So we can’t make any trades for someone with a big salary this year if we cut Raef.

So we keep him around so if a big deal becomes possible, he’s there to help match salaries.

The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.

by jscot on Sep 27, 2008 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I can see Raef with a position in the front office or as part of the coaching staff.

"Aneurysm".

When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie

by annthefan on Sep 26, 2008 9:44 PM PDT reply actions

Get well soon Mr. Raef

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 27, 2008 5:02 AM PDT reply actions

Out 6 - 8 months?!?

I had no idea it was that major of a surgery.
Thought it was more of a 2-3 month thing.

That is a season-killer, period.

"Mister Oden is a very, very big human being." - Jerryd Bayless

by QualityPie on Sep 27, 2008 10:15 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah

I think it ends a lot of quarter backs and pitchers seasons.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 27, 2008 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Then we should try to get a medical exception

It doesn’t open up a roster spot as far as I know, but saves the salary for a replacement (e.g. Hill). Could be used within 45 days for one player that costs up to half of the injured player’s salary, which in Raef’s case would be more than sufficient for all available free agents. And you can keep the replacement player even if the injured player comes back earlier. But I already asked that in a junk drawer a few days ago. And apparently we didn’t even get one for Oden last year, who was definitely out for the season.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 27, 2008 11:26 AM PDT reply actions

Get a doctor to declare it a career ending injury...

We could waive him, have the insurance pick up 85% of the cost, and his salary wouldn’t count against the cap this year. Well, on second thought, nevermind…..

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on Sep 27, 2008 7:41 PM PDT reply actions