Tyrus Thomas is expected to be sidelined until approximately mid-January with a second-degree strain of his left calf muscle and a tear of the plantaris muscle, the Bobcats announced today. No surgery will be required for the injury, which was sustained Saturday night, but Thomas figures to need about two months to recover.
Thomas was off to a slow start this season, averaging 6.6 PPG and shooting only 34% from the floor in eight games. The Bobcats' rotation shouldn't take a huge hit in Thomas' absence, with the recently-acquired Hakim Warrick among the players likely to receive increased minutes.
The injury is certainly bad news for Thomas' trade value, which was already nearly non-existent. Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld wrote earlier today that GM Rich Cho and the Bobcats were unlikely to find a taker for the former fourth overall pick, who is under contract for $26MM+ through 2015, but that the team would explore creative ways to move him. I would guess now that Charlotte won't attempt to shop Thomas until closer to the deadline, when he gets healthy.