<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The broken bone in Pau Gasol's left foot prevents him from running anytime soon. But the 7-foot Spaniard's mind already is racing. With surgery to repair a fracture of the fifth metatarsal scheduled for Friday in Memphis, Gasol was in good spirits Wednesday and provided the most optimistic view heard yet about his pending recovery. His stated goal is to return to the court in time for the start of the NBA regular season. "From what I'm told, (the rehabilitation) is supposed to be 11/2 to 2 months. I want to be back and helping my team before training camp is over," Gasol said from Barcelona, where he prepared for a flight to Memphis. "I know I'm going to have to work hard on my rehab. But I'm going to do whatever it takes. That's why I'm coming back so quickly to have the surgery." Gasol is expected to arrive in town today, and undergo surgery Friday afternoon at the Campbell Clinic. The Griz are required to report 25 days later. Their season-opener against New York in FedExForum is 54 days removed from surgery. "I know it won't be easy," Gasol said. "I know it's a process. But I always try to be positive. I hope to rejoin them midway through the preseason." Still, Griz brass and team doctors will have the final say on when Gasol is ultimately cleared to resume playing. Coach Mike Fratello presumably will prepare to start the season without his best player. The circumstance creates more of an opportunity for veterans Stromile Swift and Brian Cardinal to re-emerge, and for first- and second-year players to grow up quickly. Swift and Cardinal played well two years ago when Gasol sat out more than 20 games with a foot injury. "I'm going to pull for anybody who accepts the responsibility," Gasol said. "I hope this situation doesn't put a lot of pressure on the team. We have some guys who are capable of stepping up, so hopefully that happens." Gasol suffered the injury last Friday near the conclusion of Spain's semifinal victory against Argentina in the FIBA World Championships. He sat out last Sunday's victory over Greece in the gold medal game. Rest hasn't come easy since. </div> Source
Has Swift even reported to the team yet? And I heard Gasol would be out for 4 months. Is this an updated report?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Has Swift even reported to the team yet? And I heard Gasol would be out for 4 months. Is this an updated report?</div> Swift hasn't reported yet to my knowledge, but West keeps talking about his as if he's a member of the team. It's one of the most vague situations I've seen in the league in recent memory. They acquired him, he said he didn't want to play for them, and no further information has been released. And yes, four months is the most updated report. However, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he came back earlier than expected. He's usually one of the healthiest players in the league and never misses games with petty injuries. Barring the major foot injury he had in the '04-05 season, he averages 81 games per season on his career. There can't be too many other superstars who are that durable.
