WEDNESDAY, 10:23am: After receiving a second opinion on his knee, Howard will likely undergo surgery today, says Smith. He still hopes to be back by the end of the regular season, or at least for the playoffs, if the Jazz qualify (all Twitter links).
TUESDAY, 7:17pm: Howard says not to count him out just yet. He'll get a second opinion on his knee tomorrow, and believes he'll be out no longer than four to six weeks, Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune reports. That would get him back for the last week of the regular season at the earliest. The Jazz, however, still expect him to miss the rest of the year, Smith tweets.
6:45pm: GM Kevin O'Connor says the Jazz still don't intend to add a player, even with Howard out, according to Smith (Twitter link).
4:37pm: Josh Howard will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee, according to Jazz radio announcer David Locke (via Twitter). Howard underwent an MRI on Monday that showed a chip in the knee, tweets Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. Smith adds more detail in this story, including that Howard had recently said he'll give the Jazz "full consideration" as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Howard signed a one-year deal worth $2.15MM with the Jazz prior to the season, after spending the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Mavericks and Wizards. In 41 games for Utah, the 31-year-old averaged 8.7 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 23.4 MPG. Howard had started every game since the All-Star break.
Utah GM Kevin O'Connor said earlier today that the Jazz didn't intend to use their open roster spot to add a player this season. Perhaps that stance will be reconsidered with Howard out for the year.