DeMarre Carroll has knee surgery, no return timetable

The Toronto Raptors have announced that DeMarre Carroll has undergone surgery on his right knee, with no certain timetable for his return.

DeMarre Carroll has been dealing with a right knee injury this season, and has missed a total of 13 games. Now, the Toronto Raptors have given fans something more to worry about, as they have announced that Carroll has undergone arthroscopic surgery for his knee.

After signing him this summer for a salary of $13.5 million for 2015-16, the Raptors landed Carroll as their new three-and-D guy. He flourished in that role with the Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Hawks last season, and while he may have been the only starter to not make the All-Star game (talk about feeling left out), he still had the best season of his career.

As an improved shooter with versatile defense, Carroll has been a key addition for the Raptors. He’s 6’8″ with the ability to guard multiple positions, and the way they can utilize him at that end of the floor is possibly his best asset. Plus, his 37.8 percent shooting from deep with a career-high 1.8 made threes per game is another attribute that makes any defensive minded player even more valuable.

In his absence, it will be time for other perimeter players to step up. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will keep carrying the offense with their combined 43.6 points per game, while Terrence Ross will likely see an increase in minutes at small forward.

As Mark Woods has pointed out, there is a good chance that Carroll will miss the Raptors’ trip across the pond to England next week. On January 14, they’re set to play the Orlando Magic at London’s O2 Arena, although it’s hard to think Carroll will be in attendance after having surgery barely a week before on January 6.

At least until Carroll returns, the Raptors’ schedule isn’t too testing. In their next five games they face the Brooklyn Nets twice, the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

While the Wizards continue to struggle despite John Wall’s 19.4 points and 12.1 assists over the last nine games, the Raptors should certainly be capable of moving past this period with a positive record. At least, after facing some Eastern Conference elite in their last two contests against the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, they can enjoy playing some less formidable opponents.