Matt Carroll, Jason Richardson, & Gerald Wallace Will Replace Injured Adam Morrison For Charlotte Bobcats

The Associated Press reports on Adam Morrison’s knee injury:

Charlotte Bobcats reserve forward Adam Morrison is likely done for the season after an MRI exam on Sunday revealed a torn ligament in his left knee.

"Our medical staff has had a chance to review the MRI, and they’re saying right now they believe there is some sort of tear," coach Sam Vincent said Sunday, about an hour before the Bobcats took on Phoenix in the second day of the annual Staples Center shootout.

"Until they get in there and do whatever they do, who knows? But they are saying there’s a good chance he will be out for the year. So I’m not counting on him playing," Vincent added.

My Quick Take: This was the year the Charlotte Bobcats were supposed step out of the Eastern Conference cellar and compete for a playoff birth. Nothing has changed after Morrison’s ACL tear. His injury, while unfortunate, will have little impact on the ’Cats’ upcoming season.

Charlotte already has three wing players, who, at this stage of their careers, are better than Morrison. Matt Carroll, Jason Richardson, and Gerald Wallace are ahead of Morrison in the playing rotation because they each have a specific skill. Carroll is a strong shooter, Richardson is an athletic, first-option scorer, and Wallace fills the stat sheet with his all-round, stat-stuffing game.

Morrison, the third overall pick in the 2006 draft, had a disappointing rookie season. His shooting was streaky and his defense was non-existent. This is typical for a rookie, but Morrison, as a scorer, should have posted better offensive numbers. By mid-season, he had been demoted to the bench and was struggling to find his mark as a reserve.

His future is somewhat shaky in North Carolina. The Bobcats have the option to pickup the third and fourth years on his contract. But Charlotte, after committing $110 million dollars in total salary to Carroll, Richardson, and Wallace, may trade Morrison once he’s healthy. After all, this is their year-only Morrison won’t be part of it and his long-term future could be elsewhere, too.

Is Morrison’s future in Charlotte? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.

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