This definitely isn't what you were hoping to read as you head into the weekend.

Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report published a lengthy column on the Warriors on Friday, which included a nugget about the timetable of injured superstar Steph Curry.

His lengthy absence is not borne merely from being cautious with the franchise's best player. A team source says the fracture was worse than originally thought, and it's unlikely that he plays again this season.

Bucher later clarified his initial reporting, and NBC Sports Bay Area's Logan Murdock reported, citing sources, that the report is inaccurate

A clarification from my story today citing a source saying Steph Curry is likely to miss the remainder of the season: while the injury was worse than originally thought, he wouldn't play again this season because there's no competitive reason. Story is being updated.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) November 8, 2019

Warriors are strongly refuting the report that Stephen Curry be out for the season. Source says his timeline hasn't changed for better or worse and he will be re-evaluated in February as planned.

— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) November 8, 2019

The two-time NBA MVP broke his hand nine days ago against the Suns. After he underwent surgery Nov. 1, the team said another update would be provided in three months -- essentially putting Curry on the sideline until at least early February.

On Friday morning, Curry's personal trainer -- Brandon Payne of Accelerate Basketball -- was a guest on "The Habershow" podcast with NBC Sports' Tom Haberstroh. And Payne provided a very interesting response when Haberstroh said, 'Steph's coming back this year, right?' 

"You know, I don't know. I know he wants to. It's all gonna depend on how this rehab process plays out. It's three months to reevaluation, and then at that point we'll have a better idea of the timeline and what he can and can't do.

"Those first few weeks are gonna be critical in just how the movement comes back in the wrist and how that hand responds to activity. If it was an ankle or a knee and it was something we were familiar with, I think you'd probably have definitive answers.

"But when you're dealing with the unknown and you're dealing with surgery and longer recovery times, it's gonna have to be a wait-and-see-thing.

"As an organization, they're being very, very intelligent and well thought out about how they're going about this season. It might not be the most fun thing for their fans, but it's not like this year is the finish line.

"It's a long, long process when you're looking at doing things over a three, four, five-year period."

[RELATED: Why Steph is not comfortable running tons of pick-and-roll]

Short-term pain for long-term gain, right? 

If Curry missing the rest of the season ends up netting the Warriors a Top 3 pick in the draft, you would take that, right?

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Warriors rookie guard Jordan Poole has struggled mightily in his first season in the Bay Area. In an effort to combat his troubles, Golden State plans to send the guard to its G League affiliate at an undetermined date. 

"There's nothing set in stone yet," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said following practice Tuesday morning. "He'll eventually be there. That's a big part of our development process. Santa Cruz has been a big asset over the years. A lot of players go back and forth, so it'll happen for Jordan at some point."

The Warriors' decision -- first reported Monday by NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole -- comes as Poole's early season is in peril. Over his first 24 appearances, he's shooting just 25.8 percent from the field. In Golden State's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, he collected his first "Did Not Play -- Coach's Decision" distinction, watching all 48 minutes from the bench. 

Poole's playing time this season has come as injuries have mounted. With much of the backcourt -- including All-Star guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson -- out of the lineup, Poole is averaging 24 minutes per game,

Kerr admitted he didn't plan for that strategy when the first-round pick was drafted in June. 

"We've thrown too much at him too fast," he said. "But that's because we've had no choice." 

Last month, Poole shot down any notion that he was concerned with his play, telling NBC Sports Bay Area, "Doing that got me here. Why would I change?" 

However, Kerr had a different tone Tuesday afternoon. When asked wht contributed to Poole's struggles, he cited the 20-year old's age in relation to fellow rookies Eric Paschall (23) and Ky Bowman (22). 

"It's a hard transition from college to pro, but particularly when you're 20 years old and only played two years of college ball," Kerr said. "You're still getting stronger, you're growing, you're maturing. It's easier for a four-year guy like Eric Paschall or (three-year college player) Ky Bowman to come into the NBA. Those few extra years are a big difference.

"That first year it's about figuring everything out, shot selection, defense. Different actions that you have to guard. The speed and strength of your opponent. It's all brand-new.' 

Golden State has had success sending players to the G League in recent years. Last season, guard Jacob Evans averaged 11.3 points. 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 21 appearances with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Former Warriors Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook and Patrick McCaw also spent time in Santa Cruz when they were with Golden State. 

"It's a good wake-up call," Kerr said. "It's not all chartered planes and Four Seasons. You've got to grind through the G League schedule, which is not easy. That's important for young players to feel, too. It's a good situation for us and really for the whole league."

[RELATED: Why Warriors' Lee has felt like he has been in detention]
 
As for Poole, Kerr said the rookie has been working hard despite his bad play. Following Monday's loss, he went through an hour shooting workout in the team's practice facility inside Chase Center. Prior to games, he frequently watches film with assistant Chris DeMarco, giving Kerr optimism Poole can get out of his slump. 

"He's figuring it out and we're helping him along and he's going to grow," Kerr said. "This is going to be a very productive year for him."

The 2019-20 season has been extremely rough for the Warriors.

It's been even worse for Steph Curry.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” the two-time NBA MVP recently told Marcus Thompson of The Athletic.

Wow.

Remember, Curry underwent surgery on his right ankle in May 2011, and then was limited to just 26 (of 66) games during the 2011-12 lockout season.

He had a second procedure in April 2012, and as ESPN's Pablo Torre wrote in February 2016: "Curry didn't know if he'd wake up owning a dead man's tendons. The worst-case scenario now? Total re-reconstruction, meaning that everything rebuilt in Curry's first surgery would be reattempted. If that proved necessary, they'd use better parts -- specifically, tendons from a cadaver."

He sprained his right MCL during the 2016 playoffs, missed four games and wasn't at full strength the remainder of the postseason.

In 2016-17, he made only 51 regular-season appearances, and didn't return until Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals because of a sprained left MCL.

Yet none of that stacks up to his current predicament -- a broken left hand. The three-time NBA champion sustained the injury Oct. 30 against the Suns, and will be sidelined until February at the earliest.

In the end, he might end up missing about 75 percent of the season.

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“I’ve always been (injured) mostly during the offseason," he told Thompson. "That year was the lockout year, so it was a much shorter time on the shelf.

"I’m going to lose my mind.”

This makes sense. He just wants to play.

Get well, Steph. But also -- hurry back. The NBA needs you.

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