Kent Bazemore to have boot removed on Friday, expected to heal right foot in 4-6 weeks

Newly-aquired Lakers Kent Bazemore, left, and MarShon Brooks wait at the scorers table during a timeout in the first half, Friday, February 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Newly-aquired Lakers Kent Bazemore, left, and MarShon Brooks wait at the scorers table during a timeout in the first half, Friday, February 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Lakers forward Kent Bazemore plans to have a boot removed on his right foot after nursing a torn tendon for the past month, according to his agent, Austin Walton. Bazemore’s agent also said his client will likely fully heal his foot within four to six weeks once his boot is removed before returning for on-court workouts.

According to that timetable, Bazemore could begin working out as early as June 20 and as late as July 4. The Lakers did not offer such a timetable other than adding that Bazemore has currently been working out on a stationary bike and that he is scheduled to visit a doctor sometime next week.

After having surgery on his foot on April 16, Bazemore had originally hoped to begin working out from early to mid June so he could give the Lakers more assurances as they weigh whether to give him a $1.1 million qualifying offer by the June 30 deadline to make him a restricted free agent. If the Lakers do so, they would have the rights to offer sheet Bazemore receives from other teams.

“That’s on the Lakers,” Walton told this newspaper. “I think he’s shown enough that he’s going to be of interest to other teams if the Lakers decide not to qualify him. He did enough with the Lakers where he’s a guy worth at least the $1.1 million qualifying offer.”

The Lakers acquired Bazemore from Golden State shortly before the mid-February trade deadline, averaging 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28 minutes through 23 games. That marked a sharp increase from the 2.3 points per average in 6.1 minutes through 44 contests this season with the Warriors. Bazemore has spent the last month in San Francisco completing physical therapy exercises.

“He’s going to be 100 percent healthy well before any type of training camp,” Walton said. “He’s not going to be doing anything to jeopardize his health.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Lakers expect Kent Bazemore to be fully healthy by training camp

After having surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn tendon in his right foot, Kent Bazemore is expected to fully recover in time for training camp slated for the end of September.

But it’s likely Bazemore’s recovery will happen more quickly. According to a league source, Bazemore will likely fully heal his foot and resume training by early to mid-June before progressively advancing toward complete workouts by August.

Bazemore’s timetable could give the Lakers a chance to watch him train before deciding to grant him a $1.1 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent. Such a move would allow the Lakers to match any offer he receives from other teams.

The Lakers acquired Bazemore from Golden State two months ago and averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28 minutes through 23 games with the Lakers before injuring his foot last week against the Clippers. Bazemore’s contributions marked a sharp increase from the 2.3 points per average in 6.1 minutes through 44 contests this season with the Warriors.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kent Bazemore to have surgery on right foot on Wednesday

Newly-aquired Lakers Kent Bazemore, left, and MarShon Brooks wait at the scorers table during a timeout in the first half, Friday, February 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Newly-aquired Lakers Kent Bazemore, left, and MarShon Brooks wait at the scorers table during a timeout in the first half, Friday, February 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Kent Bazemore plans to have surgery to treat a torn tendon on his right foot on Wednesday, an operation that will be performed by Dr. Kenneth Hunt at Stanford University. Bazemore visited with Hunt on Monday to determine his surgery date.

Bazemore sprained his foot in the second quarter of the Lakers’ loss on April 6 to the Clippers at a designated road game at Staples Center. A day later, Bazemore was then ruled out the remainder of the season. Bazemore was simply handling the ball at the top of the key before feeling what he described as a “pop,” but attributed the injury toward “overuse.”

The Lakers acquired Bazemore from Golden State and has averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28 minutes through 23 games with the Lakers, a sharp increase from the 2.3 points per average in 6.1 minutes through 44 contests this season with the Warriors.

The Lakers are likely to extend Bazemore a $1.1 million qualifying offer that will make him a restricted free agent because of his energy, athleticism and willingness to learn.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kent Bazemore out for season with torn tendon in right foot

The Lakers have ruled Kent Bazemore out for the season after an MRI revealed a torn tendon in his right foot.

For those counting, that puts the Lakers (25-52) heading into Tuesday’s game against the Houston Rockets (51-25) at Staples Center fielding nearly as many injured players (seven) as healthy ones (eight) suited enough to play.

The Lakers have already penciled out Pau Gasol, who has missed the seven of the past eight games because of vertigo. Chris Kaman (strained right calf) is listed as doubtful, while Steve Nash (nerve irritation in back) is listed as questionable. Although Jordan Farmar has said he will play Tuesday after sitting out the past 11 games because of a strained right groin, the Lakers are also listing him as questionable. Meanwhile, the Lakers also have season-ending injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee) and Xavier Henry (torn ligament in left wrist, bone bruise in right knee).

Bazemore sprained his foot in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 120-97 loss Sunday to the Clippers at a designated road game at Staples Center. Bazemore was simply handling the ball at the top of the key before feeling what he described as a “pop,” but attributed the injury toward “overuse.”

The Lakers acquired Bazemore from Golden State and has averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28 minutes through 23 games with the Lakers, a sharp increase from the 2.3 points per average in 6.1 minutes through 44 contests this season with the Warriors.

“It’s no one’s fault,” Bazemore said. “It’s just the penalty of working hard and playing a lot of minutes. It happens.”

Bazemore’s latest injury should open up time for a flurry of wing players, including Nick Young, Wesley Johnson and possibly even Marshon Brooks, who has appeared in nine of the last 15 games. He has averaged seven points in 15 games since the Lakers acquired him in the Golden State deal, which sent Steve Blake to the Warriors.

Bazemore, 24, will become a restricted free agent in July after making $762,195 this season. The Lakers have liked Bazemore’s energy, defense and willingness to correct his mistakes, including his shot selection and playmaking.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kent Bazemore attributes right foot sprain to “overuse”

With no one even close to him, Kent Bazemore stood at the top of the key, studying the defense and looking at how he could attack.

But before he could even shoot, dribble or drive past Clippers guard Darren Collison, Bazemore felt what he called “a little pop” in his right foot before falling to the floor. Bazemore recalled feeling a similar sensation when he fractured his left foot before his senior year at Old Dominion, an injury that ultimately required a permanent screw placed in his left foot.

Well before the Lakers’ 120-97 loss Sunday to the Clippers at a designated road game at Staples Center became official, Lakers teammates Robert Sacre and Jodie Meeks then helped Bazemore off the floor with 10:08 left in the second quarter. Shortly after, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti helped him to the locker room.

“I was like shocked,” Bazemore said. “Like, ‘Oh no, not again.’ So I just fell and cried a little bit.”

The worst-case scenario didn’t materialize. X-rays turned out negative. Bazemore will have an MRI on Monday. Should the test turn out clear, Bazemore plans to play the Lakers’ remaining five games. But how did such an injury occur in the first place?

“It was an overuse injury from playing six minutes to 35 minutes,” Bazemore said. “It’s no one’s fault. It’s just the penalty of working hard and playing a lot of minutes. It happens.”

The Lakers acquired Bazemore and seldom-used guard MarShon Brooks from Golden State for Steve Blake, a move the Lakers made both for cost-cutting purposes and to see if such young players could develop. Bazemore has averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28 minutes through 23 games with the Lakers, a sharp increase from the 2.3 points per average in 6.1 minutes through 44 contests this season with the Warriors.

Bazemore hardly provided much of an impact against the Clippers, finishing with two points on 1 of 3 shooting and four assists in 11 minutes. But Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has raved about the 24-year-old Bazemore, ranging from his energy, athleticism and eagerness to improve. Considering he’ll become a restricted free agent after making $762,195 this season, Bazemore doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.

“I’m not in a position where I can afford to miss games,” Bazemore said. “My contract is up so I don’t have any room to be resting. I’ve played well since I’ve been here. But with me finishing out the season, I’ll play well to my advantage.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kent Bazemore exits Lakers-Clippers game with sprained right foot

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kent Bazemore, center, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kent Bazemore, center, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

At this rate, the Lakers will soon run out of bodies.

Kent Bazemore left the Lakers’ game Sunday against the Clippers in a designated road game at Staples Center after spraining his right foot. He was handling the ball at the top of the key before he turned his foot and fell to the ground with 10:08 left in the second quarter. Bazemore was soon carried up by teammates Robert Sacre and Jodie Meeks before a Lakers’ staff member helped him to the locker room.

Bazemore soon took x-rays that turned out negative. But the injury was serious enough for him to stay out the rest of the game. Bazemore is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.

Bazemore’s absence provides yet another blow to the Lakers’ injury-riddled roster. The Lakers entered their matchup against the Clippers fielding only eight healthy players. Kobe Bryant (fractured left foot) and Xavier Henry (bone bruise on right knee) are out for the season. Pau Gasol (vertigo), Chris Kaman (strained right calf) and Steve Nash (nerve irritation in back) are considered day-to-day. Jordan Farmar (strained right groin) won’t return until Tuesday’s game against Houston.

Bazemore contributed two points on 1 of 3 shooting and four assists in 12 minutes against the Clippers.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com