Portland Trail Blazers center Jeff Pendergraph reports on Twitter that his right knee injury last night was a season-ending torn ACL.
Tough news today y'all, I'm out for the season with torn ACL
Jeff Pendergraph
TheRealJP31
- Pendergraph was injured during the second quarter of Portland's second game of the preseason last night against the Utah Jazz attempting to defend Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko.
- Pendergraph's injury leaves Portland with a projected big man rotation of Marcus Camby, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dante Cunningham. Rookie Luke Babbitt may see more playing time as well unless the Blazers decide to go smaller, playing one of their wings at the power forward position.
- Blazers coach Nate McMillan said after the game that the team would look into "bringing another guy into training camp."
- Pendergraph is in the last guaranteed year of his contract.
- Scroll to the bottom of this post for Portland GM Rich Cho's options.
- Pendergraph is an active Twitter user. Here's a link to his account if you would like to send him a message.
Update (1:36 PM): Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports on Twitter that Rich Cho says he is in wait-and-see mode regarding Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla before he decides whether to free a roster spot, as anticipated last night. Also, free agent center Erick Dampier is not in the picture because he is headed elsewhere.
Update (1:54 PM): A text message from Portland Trail Blazers PR confirms Pendergraph's tweet.
MRI confirms Portland Forward Jeff Pendergraph has torn right ACL. Timeline for his return will be set following surgery. Date of surgery TBD.
Update (1:59PM): And here's the press release.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Trail Blazers forward Jeff Pendergraph will undergo surgery in the coming days after an MRI today revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, it was announced by General Manager Rich Cho.
A timetable for his return to the court will be determined upon completion of the procedure.
"Jeff has been playing well and has been a big part of the team, so this is an unfortunate setback," said Cho. "With his work ethic and determination, we know he'll work hard in his rehabilitation to return to the court."
The injury occurred at the 10:48 mark of the second quarter in Thursday's preseason game at Utah.
Pendergraph, 23, averaged 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 39 games (four starts) as a rookie in 2009-10 with the Trail Blazers after being acquired from Sacramento in a draft day trade on June 25, 2009. The Arizona State product was the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter