2:03pm: Collison is set for surgery next week, and he’ll be re-evaluated three to six weeks later, Spears reports, reiterating that the point guard’s season is likely done (Twitter links).
11:22am: There’s little optimism that Darren Collison will play again this season, sources tell Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), who nonetheless cautions that a decision isn’t final. Collison has been out since February 5th due to a hip flexor strain he suffered against the Mavericks. The Kings initially said when he got hurt that he would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis. Collison met with a specialist in Los Angeles on Tuesday, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
“I think there’s still discussions going on with doctors,” coach George Karl said, according to Jones. “I think something will probably be known in the next couple of days. It’s in the hands of interpretations and doctors.”
Ray McCallum has started the last three games for Collison. Karl previously said he spoke with Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro about the idea of adding a point guard but added that he’d prefer not to make any more changes. The Kings are limited to giving out the minimum salary, and they have a full 15-man roster, though David Stockton is on a 10-day contract, as our roster counts show, giving Sacramento at least a measure of flexibility.
Collison, who signed a three-year, $16MM deal with the Kings in July, is suited to play the uptempo style that Karl favors because he can get up the floor quickly and attack, Jones added. In his first season with the Kings, Collison is averaging 16.1 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. It has been his best season statistically.