Hooped Up

Washington Wizards forward Josh Howard could miss the start of next season after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Howard’s operation was Tuesday in New York, and the Wizards said he is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight months.

Howard was injured in a game against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 22, when he collided with an opponent. That was only his fourth game with Washington after coming over in a seven-player trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 13.

He had operations on his left ankle and left wrist last off-season. Howard was an all-star in 2007, when he averaged 18.9 points in 70 games. He had his best season a year later, when he averaged 19.9 points.

Press Release

Slumping Nick Young struggles to find a place with the new-look Washington Wizards
Nick Young is starting to feel left behind. A Halloween mask of Gilbert Arenas hangs in his locker room stall, a symbol of the friend and mentor who has been banished for the remainder of the season. His closest friend on the team, Dominic McGuire, is no longer sitting two stalls down after McGuire was traded to Sacramento.

And Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee — who used to share spots near Young on the bench, hoping for more playing time — have suddenly moved into prominent roles as starters. Young, however, continues to sit and ponder his place with the team as the Wizards prepare to host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

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Great ghost of Gilberts guns! If it wasn’t for bad luck, the Washington Wizards would have no luck at all. Enter the season ending knee injury of newly acquired Josh Howard.

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard/forward Josh Howard has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Howard suffered the injury in last night’s game vs. Chicago at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter. In four games (three starts) for Washington this season, Howard averaged 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.No timetable has been announced for Howard’s recovery.

I never thought I’d say this, but the Washington Wizards at this point look like they need College phenom John Wall way more than the (5 and awful) New Jersey Nets. That’s just how bad things look right now for the Wiz.

H/N Press Release

Mavericks president: We’re ready to compete against Lakers
A seven-player weekend trade brought two-time All-Star guard Caron Butler, 7-foot center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas from Washington. Often promising and disappointing Josh Howard was sent with Drew Gooden and two others to the Wizards.

“This gives us a real chance to do some damage in the West,” said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations. “It’s like a nuclear arms race out here. From top to bottom, there’s 11 that look like they’re viable and eight that are going to make it. But we feel [the trade] gives us a real chance to take this next step.’

“Now I don’t know how many of you out there are going to pick us in a seven-game series against the Lakers, but in our opinion the guys in that locker room, we’re ready to lock horns with anybody. We feel like this solidifies us a little bit.”
Dallas Morning News

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The Dallas Mavericks acquired Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood from Washington on Saturday, a seven-player deal that strengthens them for a playoff run and signals the breakup of a disappointing Wizards team.

The Mavericks dealt forwards Josh Howard and Drew Gooden, and two other players to the Wizards. Dallas also got guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations. Read More »

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard is out indefinitely to continue his recovery from surgery on his left ankle.

Howard missed all of the pre-season and the first five games of the regular season after having arthroscopic surgery on his ankle and wrist in May. He returned to the starting lineup on Saturday against Toronto and played in the past three games.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that Howard needs more time to recover. He did not put a timetable on Howard’s return. Howard will still do some work in practice in addition to his rehabilitation while he tries to regain the strength and mobility in the ankle.

Press Release

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

The Mavericks reloaded this offseason hoping their championship window hasn’t closed and that’s why they got Shawn Marion. I would love to be as optimistic (or rich) as Mark Cuban is about this squad, but then I’d be living in 2006. Read More »

Dallas forward Josh Howard was sidelined after just six scoreless minutes in Game 2 against Denver because of a sprained right ankle.

The Mavericks’ energizer went to the bench late in the first quarter after he appeared to land awkwardly on his right foot while trying to block Carmelo Anthony’s layup.

Howard has been hampered all season by a balky left ankle and sprained his right one in the first half of the opener Sunday night at Denver.

Howard missed 30 games in the regular season but his return sparked Dallas down the stretch and he played a key role in the Mavericks’ elimination of San Antonio in the first round.

Press Release

Josh Howard has been sidelined with a wonky left ankle that needs arthroscopic surgery and could potentially miss the remainder of the season.

“That’s the team saying that, not amateur physicians in the media. The Mavericks hope any procedure is later, not sooner. Even if it is, he will require a cortisone shot later this week and it will be at least next week before he is cleared to practice. Coach Rick Carlisle said it was “unlikely” Howard would play next week. It has become clear that the only priority is trying to get him healthy by the time the playoffs start. Surgery would be the worst setback. If that can be delayed until the off-season, Howard should be able to play at some point.”

Two things immediately entered my thoughts after I read this. One, will Josh Howard ask for medical marijuana to deal with his ankle pain, because this would be a perfect opportunity to score. Two, does Mark Cuban really think he can make it out of the first round and if so, is it worth the future health of Josh Howard to try?

Via Dallas Morning News

Jim Reeves is tired of Josh Howard ducking him for an interview, but I bet the next time these two are in the same room together Howard will definitely have a few words to share with Reeves. Lots and lots of four lettered ones.  

“You’d at least show up for the fourth quarter, and that’s more than we can say about the Mavericks’ Josh Howard. Jeez, I hate picking on Josh like that, but there it is. It wasn’t so long ago that Josh was my favorite Mav to talk to when I showed up at the AAC. I loved his talent and his potential. Now, he sees a guy coming with a notebook or a tape recorder, he scuttles out of the room like a bashful cockroach. Then again, guess I shouldn’t use any form of the word “roach” when talking about Josh.”

Fort Worth Star-Telegram