The Rockets will be without a key rotation player for the rest of the playoffs, as the team announced today in a press release that Nene won’t return this season. The Rockets’ medical staff is currently considering treatment options for the veteran center, who suffered a left adductor tear on Sunday.
[RELATED: Poll: Who will win Spurs/Rockets series?]
Nene’s injury occurred in the first quarter of Houston’s game against the Spurs on Sunday, less than two minutes after he checked into the game. Initially diagnosed as a left groin injury, Nene’s adductor tear won’t just sideline him for the rest of the postseason — it could also affect his contract situation this summer.
Nene had been on a one-year contract with the Rockets worth just under $3MM, putting him in line for unrestricted free agency in July. A healthy and productive season in Houston had set up the 34-year-old for a potential raise this summer, but potential suitors will now have to take a close look at his recovery from this injury before committing to him.
As for the Rockets, with Nene no longer in the mix, they figure to lean more heavily on players like Clint Capela and Ryan Anderson as they attempt to knock off the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. The series is currently tied at two games apiece.
Wow that is a HUGE loss. I had voted Rockets in the poll to beat SAS, but now I’m not so sure.