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He hasn't played for the last 5 games. Does anybody have details on his injury status?

It can't be great. He is not travelling with the team.

He's reportedly in constant pain even when he's taking cortisone injection doesn't help

I feel for the guy, just when he comes back he just get's injured again

KOC said on the radio that Okur is no longer day-to-day, that it's clearly a bigger problem than that.

Wow. I didn't realize it was looking so bad.

I figured he would get compensation injuries from the weak hamstring, but it sounds like his career might be in jeopardy.

I feel bad for the guy, and I hope his career isn't in jeopardy. That being said, the Jazz started to play pretty awful when he was getting minutes. If he's not effective out there I'd rather just see him heal on the bench.

Nate505 wrote:I feel bad for the guy, and I hope his career isn't in jeopardy. That being said, the Jazz started to play pretty awful when he was getting minutes. If he's not effective out there I'd rather just see him heal on the bench.

i'll remain optimistic, his game doesn't require a lot of physical movement so I think he can recover and play like old memo. i believe he should start when he does return, that's when he's best utilized.

The Jazz played very badly with him in the lineup, but that's to be expected as he works his way back. Unfortunately, with these new injuries compounding that problem, we're unlikely to get any sort of "Old Memo" performances this year, if he comes back at all.

I'm starting to think Memo should bag this year, come back next season with a vengence. Give Fes the minutes.

plus 1 to what dingojazz said.

I obviously don't wish a seemingly decent, loyal and historically well-performed person and player anything but a speedy return to optimum health but, as a fan of the basketball team, I really could not care less. No team can expect to be contenders as long as slow, defenseless, thirty-plus bigs play a significant role, and certainly while they occupy upwards of the fifth spot on the salary list. May he thrive elsewhere upon recovery, which I hope is soon. Time enough before the trade deadline, preferrably.

and certainly while they occupy upwards of the fifth spot on the salary list.

4th this year and 3rd next year Not an inexpensive guy to have injured.

Ern III wrote:I obviously don't wish a seemingly decent, loyal and historically well-performed person and player anything but a speedy return to optimum health but, as a fan of the basketball team, I really could not care less. No team can expect to be contenders as long as slow, defenseless, thirty-plus bigs play a significant role, and certainly while they occupy upwards of the fifth spot on the salary list. May he thrive elsewhere upon recovery, which I hope is soon. Time enough before the trade deadline, preferrably.

Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, and Luc Longley beg to differ.

retiredcoach wrote:4th this year and 3rd next year Not an inexpensive guy to have injured.

Indeed. In the knowledge he's fourth-highest this season, my phraseology must've been wrong. Cheers.

jazzfan1971 wrote:Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, and Luc Longley beg to differ.

Perdue averaged less than a quarter played per game in the '91 playoffs (as did Memo, as the 12th-highest paid Piston, in 2004) and played less in subsequent Bulls' seasons. Wennington saw less than ten minutes in '96 and eight in '98. Only Longley played a significant championship-winning role and he, although slow, at 7'2" and 320 lbs - in a more physical era - was not defenseless.

I feel really bad for the guy and I wish he could get healthy again....

....but having said that I think it's probably better for the team for him to sit. We play a lot better without him.

When healthy, Okur has been our best post defender over the last few years. Yeah, he is an automatic and-one for guards that beat our perimeter defense, but he uses his body well against post players.

If he is as bad as he sounds, I think he should take advice from Bill Walton: "He should move to Hawaii, lose a ton of weight and start all over... become a yoga master." If he is ready to start next year (a contract year no less), I'd be happy.

Looks like he is out at least 3 weeks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6106488

ut_jazz wrote:his game doesn't require a lot of physical movement

Oh, it requires it- he just doesn't have it and never did. This isn't the first year we've sent a mismatched frontcourt out there to do battle.

I think he will be no better or worse than Big Z when he is back despite being 4(?) years younger. If Sloan is really done, probably the new coach will try his best to ship Okur in any possible deal.