Cavs C O’Neal to have thumb surgery
February 28, 2010
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP)—Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal(notes) will undergo surgeryon Monday to repair his injured right thumb.
O’Neal was examined Sunday by Dr. Thomas Graham at the National Hand Centerin Baltimore. He will perform the surgery.
An MRI exam Saturday confirmed the injury was a significant sprain. O’Nealwas hurt during a win at Boston on Thursday. The team has not provided anytimeline for his return.
With O’Neal out of the lineup, Anderson Varejao(notes) will continue to start atcenter. Former backup Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes), traded to Washington for AntawnJamison(notes), is now a free agent following a buyout from the Wizards. Ilgauskas isfree to sign with any team, but will have to wait until March 21 under NBA rulesshould he elect to re-sign with the Cavaliers.
Cleveland also recalled rookie Danny Green(notes) from Erie of the NBA DevelopmentLeague. He was assigned to Erie on Feb. 24 and played in two games for theBayHawks.
