6:44pm: Ezeli is expected to return to action in six weeks, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. He hasn’t played since January 25th and missed the Warriors’ last five games with knee soreness. Ezeli underwent surgery this morning and will be re-evaluated at the six-week mark, the team announced via press release.
3:11pm: The status of soon-to-be restricted free agent Festus Ezeli is in question as he’s having exploratory surgery on his left knee today, the Warriors announced. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out, notes Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). He’s missed the last five games, and the results of an earlier MRI were inconclusive.
Warriors assistant GM Kirk Lacob hinted last month at the team’s willingness to pay whatever it takes to re-sign Ezeli and fellow soon-to-be restricted free agent Harrison Barnes. Lacob is the son of co-owner Joe Lacob. GM Bob Myers said in the wake of failed extension negotiations for Ezeli and Barnes that he was committed to finding a way to keep them, and Ezeli has said he wants to stay with the Warriors for the rest of his career. Agent Bill Duffy reportedly talked Ezeli out of signing what Duffy considered a team-friendly extension deal.
Ezeli has a history of major knee trouble, having sat out all of 2013/14 because of his right knee, so teams interested in signing him will no doubt research the matter thoroughly. Marreese Speights, another soon-to-be free agent, will inherit minutes while Ezeli recovers from his latest surgery, coach Steve Kerr said, according to Monte Poole of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link).
Dang!! We really miss Festus, especially when Bogut gets into early foul trouble!