The Toronto Raptors announced today that Bruce Brown Jr. had an arthroscopic surgical procedure completed on his right knee. He is to be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Lindsay Dunn of CTV NewsTO was, apparently, told last year by Brown, himself, that he was playing “on one leg”.
If so, the decision to have the surgery now is odd timing. Barring misdiagnosis, an attempt to continue into the offseason on a faulty leg is peculiar. Perhaps, the condition worsened in the summer.
Conjecture aside, the announcement is unideal for Toronto, too. More so from a personnel perspective than transactional one. Brown was acquired in the Pascal Siakam trade with the Indiana Pacers last year. His inclusion was to match salary; many anticipated he would be flipped immediately following the trade or some time in the offseason.
Yet, in Toronto, Brown remains. His $23 million dollar expiring contract, likely, making it difficult to find a trade partner. A sudden surgery exacerbates that challenge.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, recovery can take up to six to eight weeks before returning to physical activities, and, possibly, longer for higher impact activities.
With Brown sidelined, there’s all the more reason for the Raptors to usher in one of their many young guards or forwards into a bigger starting or rotation role to start the season.
Wishing Brown a swift and healthy recovery.
