Source: Ginobili injury not season-ending
The San Antonio Spurs’ delay to release any specific information about Manu Ginobili’s right ankle injury has led some opposing GMs to speculate that the injury could be serious. Delaying the announcement until after the Thursday trade deadline would help keep the Spurs from losing any leverage in their ongoing talks.
One Spurs source said the team is still waiting on additional test results. When asked whether the injury was potentially season-ending, he said, “No, not at all.”
Spurs officials publicly announced only that Ginobili won’t join them on their road trip.
In addition to their failed pursuit of Salmons, the Spurs expressed interest in the Nets’ Carter and the Bucks’ Jefferson. One Western Conference executive acknowledged they have little chance of landing Jefferson.
Bruce Bowen has been offered in nearly every trade discussion because he’s guaranteed only $2 million next season. Center Fabricio Oberto also has a partial guarantee of $1.9 million next season.
The Spurs didn’t announce Ginobili’s absence on their trip until Monday when they were already in New York. Though Ginobili scored 32 points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Spurs’ final game before the All-Star break, team officials say he had been experiencing pain in his right ankle for a while.