The New Orleans Hornets will be without the services of Jason Smith for the remainder of the 2012-13 season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, according to Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.
Jason Smith injury: Hornets lose reserve big man for remainder of season
The Hornets front line will be particularly thin in the immediate future with Jason Smith being shut down due to a torn labrum and Anthony Davis battling through a shoulder injury of his own.
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This news is especially troublesome when you consider that Anthony Davis is expected to miss his second consecutive game Friday due to a shoulder injury of his own.
Smith has provided New Orleans with some much-needed energy off the bench this season, averaging 8.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in just 17.2 minutes per game at the power forward and center position. His surgery is scheduled for next week.
Smith is signed through next season, but the odds could be against him returning since his $2.5 million salary isn't guaranteed. While not exactly injury prone, Smith has suffered three major injuries in his six-year NBA career: a torn ACL in 2008 with the 76ers, a serious concussion in 2012 with the Hornets and, of course, this labrum issue.
With Smith and Davis both out Friday, don't be surprised if Ryan Anderson is given his first 40-minute game since mid-December.
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