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09-25-2002, 04:57 PM
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,410014889,00.html
Lopez to sign, have knee surgery
By Rich Evans
Deseret News sports writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raul Lopez will sign with the Jazz and then undergo knee surgery as early as this week, the Deseret News has learned.
Lopez, a first-round draft pick from Spain, suffered a knee injury while playing in an exhibition game with the Spanish national team in August. The injury was severe enough to raise questions of whether he would ever play again, but the Jazz apparently have decided he's worth the risk, even though he'll likely miss this entire season.
Newspapers in Spain, meanwhile, have reported that Lopez will sign a deal for the low end of the rookie scale. NBA collective-bargaining rules specify a base figure for draft picks, depending on their draft position, but teams can negotiate a deal within an 80-120 percent range of that figure.
The base figure for a 24th-round pick is $720,000, and 80 percent of that would be roughly $577,000, which — if the Spanish reports are true — would be Lopez's first-year salary.
Jazz officials declined to confirm reports of Lopez's imminent signing or surgery.
Lopez was evaluated earlier this month at the University of Utah's orthopedic center. Doctors there discovered he's suffering from a lateral meniscal tear and a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
A written statement from the Jazz after that examination said "It is the opinion of the medical team that the injuries can be repaired and function restored."
Lopez to sign, have knee surgery
By Rich Evans
Deseret News sports writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raul Lopez will sign with the Jazz and then undergo knee surgery as early as this week, the Deseret News has learned.
Lopez, a first-round draft pick from Spain, suffered a knee injury while playing in an exhibition game with the Spanish national team in August. The injury was severe enough to raise questions of whether he would ever play again, but the Jazz apparently have decided he's worth the risk, even though he'll likely miss this entire season.
Newspapers in Spain, meanwhile, have reported that Lopez will sign a deal for the low end of the rookie scale. NBA collective-bargaining rules specify a base figure for draft picks, depending on their draft position, but teams can negotiate a deal within an 80-120 percent range of that figure.
The base figure for a 24th-round pick is $720,000, and 80 percent of that would be roughly $577,000, which — if the Spanish reports are true — would be Lopez's first-year salary.
Jazz officials declined to confirm reports of Lopez's imminent signing or surgery.
Lopez was evaluated earlier this month at the University of Utah's orthopedic center. Doctors there discovered he's suffering from a lateral meniscal tear and a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
A written statement from the Jazz after that examination said "It is the opinion of the medical team that the injuries can be repaired and function restored."