Andrea Bargnani injured for the season

Andrea Bargnani (209 cm) of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA) will sit out the rest of the season after suffering an avulsion sprain of his right elbow. The power forward picked up the injury during the first quarter of the Raptors 118-116 loss on the road at the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday and did not return to the court.

The 27-year old Italian will now miss the rest of the season, and rumours about his future with the Raptors will surely surface again. Bargnani is a major asset for Toronto, but the franchise is struggling financially and the subject of trading the Italian has arisen more than once. However, the fact that Bargnani has two years and $22 million left on his contract should see him staying with the Raptors.

This injury is similar to last season when the player injured the ligaments in his elbow and missed 25 games of the NBA campaign. However, the Raptors have confirmed that this is an entirely separate problem and not related to that previous injury. A number one draft pick back in 2006, Andrea Bargnani has been a constant fixture for the Raptors since and this season he has played 35 games and has been averaging 12.7ppg, 3.7rpg, and 1.8apg.