Forward requires surgery on his ailing right knee
Rashard Lewis tried sitting out. He tried limited minutes. Neither enabled him to overcome the nagging tendinitis in his right knee, and Lewis said having it scoped may be the only solution.
After playing 31 games since arriving in December from Orlando in a trade that sent Gilbert Arenas to the Magic, Lewis’ agent, Tony Dutt, and Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld were to discuss Thursday whether the forward would undergo season-ending surgery.
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“We either going to get it done this week, or we going to grind it out and wait until the season is over with,” said Lewis, who has averaged 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game for the Wizards since the Dec. 18 swap.
After increasing problems with the knee, Lewis missed Washington’s final three games before the NBA All-Star break to allow time to heal. But since scoring 13 points in 32 minutes against Dallas on Saturday, his playing time has dwindled dramatically, down to just over five minutes against Golden State on Wednesday.
“I can’t give them what I want,” Lewis said. “I can’t defend on the court. My reaction is a step slow. My first step, my explosiveness, everything. Even with my jump shot, when I got to squat in my jump shot, I just have no lift in my legs. It’s not only hurting me running up and down the court but my jump shot as well.”
Wizards assistant coach Randy Wittman, who is running the team while coach Flip Saunders is in Cleveland attending to his ill mother, said the team had imposed limits on Lewis’ playing time.
It’s been a downward spiral of a year for Lewis, who began the season in Orlando thinking he would be part of an NBA title contender. Instead, he has dealt with an injured knee and a trade to the Wizards (15-45), expected to help turn around the fortunes of a sagging franchise.
Although he’s barely had time to get comfortable in D.C., Lewis is aware of the perception that a decision to get surgery might cause.
“I don’t want to leave these guys out to dry, leave them hanging with having a tough season,” he said. “When we win, we all win. When we lose, we all lose, so I don’t want to make it look like I’m quitting on these guys. That’s why I’ve just been trying to stick it out even though I can’t perform. I’ve just made my presence to help. I don’t want it to seem like I’m folding on these guys. I’m just trying to keep pushing.”
