After being the leading scorer in EuroLeague last season and a good showing at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey last summer, we had high hopes for Linas Kleiza this season in Toronto.
It hasn’t worked out that way. And now his season is over after the team reported that he had microfrature surgery and arthroscopic surgery for torn meniscus (two different procedures) that will keep him out 9 months to a year.
Kleiza returned to the NBA’s Raptors after agreeing to a four-year, $18 million deal that the Nuggets chose not to match. With the vacuum created by the exit of Chris Bosh, Kleiza was seen as a guy who could step in and take on some of the scoring load.
Kleiza has averaged 11.2 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting and his rebounding numbers were pedestrian. The Raptors have spiraled down lately, having now dropped 13 in a row.
The length of recovery for these surgeries means Kleiza likely will miss the start of next season as well (if it starts on time due to the lockout).
