Thunder swingman Hamidou Diallo underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his troublesome right elbow today, the team announced in a press release. Diallo had been ruled out of Tuesday’s Game 2 vs. Portland due to right elbow soreness.
According to the club, Diallo is expected to resume basketball-related activities in approximately four weeks. Given that the Thunder have fallen behind 2-0 to the Trail Blazers in their first-round series, there’s certainly no guarantee OKC will still be alive at that point.
Of course, even if the Thunder rebound and make a deep playoff run, it’s possible Diallo has played his last game of the season. The 2018 second-rounder was a regular part of the club’s rotation earlier in the season, but hasn’t played more than five minutes in a game since the All-Star break.
Assuming he gets and healthy and continues to make positive strides, the 20-year-old will likely take on a more prominent role in Oklahoma City’s rotation over the next couple years. Diallo’s team-friendly rookie contract – $1.42MM in 2019/20 with a $1.66MM team option for 2020/21 – should make him a valuable asset for a club that was this season’s top taxpayer and may remain in luxury tax territory going forward.