Breaking: Portland Trail Blazers' Nicolas Batum To Have Shoulder Surgery

Should have known this picture would come back to haunt us.

Update 2: Joe Freeman tweeted that Batum is looking at three to five months of recovery.

Update 1: Coup at Rip City Project reminds me that Jameer Nelson had a similar injury last year with a timetable of four to six months. Nelson seemed to miraculously return around the four month mark, but I don't necessarily see the same for Batum. At best, I'd say late March or early April.

According to a source and 95.5 The Game, Batum's lingering shoulder injury has become more serious. He'll have surgery to repair a torn labrum which has been a problem for a while now. There's no timetable for a return yet, but I worry that it's the whole season.

This is one of the main reasons the current Blazer team has so much depth. Just in case someone gets injured. It's a blow to the starting lineup and definitely changes things for the team. Batum was coming into the season with a ton of confidence and he's now been completely derailed.

Now the team will be back to relying on Martell Webster (who's coming off a missed 08/09 season) and Travis Outlaw who has struggled in the preseason. Outlaw really needs to step it up and contribute in any way possible.

As far as outlooks for the season it shouldn't change too much. Webster should do many of the things Batum would do. Play defense, hit threes, and be active. It's not going to kill us but it sure is disappointing.

Press release:

NICOLAS BATUM TO UNDERGO SHOULDER SURGERY

PORTLAND, Ore.—Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum will undergo surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn labrum, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Friday in Los Angeles at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. A timeline for Batum's return will be determined following surgery.

As a rookie last season, Batum appeared in 79 games (76 starts), averaging 5.4 points (44.6% FT), 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 18.4 minutes.

Batum ranked eighth in 3-point shooting (36.9%) and 10th in blocked shots (0.51) among rookie leaders a season ago. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions.

A leader on the French National Team that finished fifth in the 2009 European Championships, Batum ranked second on the team with 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds to go with 1.8 assists, 1.00 block and 28.6 minutes in nine games.