Cavs' Hughes out another eight to 10 weeks

[ducks]

Cavs' Hughes out another eight to 10 weeks
Cavs' Hughes out another eight to 10 weeks

By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press Writer
February 14, 2006

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes is likely to miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on Tuesday for the second time in six weeks on his broken right middle finger.

Hughes, the team's second-leading scorer, was supposed to miss six to eight weeks after having surgery Jan. 6. However, doctors concluded last week that the finger hadn't healed as quickly as the team had hoped. The team said he will now miss an additional eight to 10 weeks.

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"If all goes well for him and all goes well for our team ... he could possibly be back and participate in the postseason," Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said.

Hughes, who signed a five-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, averaged 16.2 points and 3.9 assists in 28 games for the Cavs before sitting out the Jan. 4 game against Milwaukee. Cleveland started the season 18-10 with Hughes and is 12-11 in his absence.

Hughes' second surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas J. Graham, chief of the Curtis National Hand Center at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Additional bone grafting was performed and one of the three screws inserted during the first surgery had to be tightened.

Hughes has had a variety of injuries in his NBA career, including a broken right thumb and left wrist, a sprained right ankle and a strained right shoulder. Before he broke his finger, he had missed 97 games in the last five seasons and hasn't played a complete season since 1999-2000.

Hughes' injury will be a factor in the team's decision-making as the trading deadline approaches Feb. 23, Ferry said.

Guard Sasha Pavlovic has struggled recently starting in Hughes' place, scoring just four points and committing four fouls in 18 minutes during Monday night's win against San Antonio.

However, guard Stephen Graham, recently signed to a 10-day contract, has played well off the bench and had eight points and five rebounds against the Spurs.

At 30-21, the Cavaliers have the third best record in the Eastern Conference. Ferry believes the team's current makeup is good enough for them to reach the postseason for the first time since 1998.

"I believe that this is a playoff team," Ferry said. "The guys in the locker room expect that as well."

[ducks]

Larry Hughes: Likely Done for Regular Season

RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Update: Hughes is likely to miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on Tuesday for the second time in six weeks on his broken right middle finger, the Associated Press reports.

Recommendation: Hughes was supposed to miss six to eight weeks after having surgery Jan. 6. However, doctors concluded last week that the finger hadn't healed as quickly as the team had hoped. The team said he will now miss an additional eight to 10 weeks. "If all goes well for him and all goes well for our team ... he could possibly be back and participate in the postseason," Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said.

[Horry For 3!]

Sucks for Hughes and the Cavs

[cheguevara]

great trade for the cavs