Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the blockbuster Isaiah Thomas trade earlier this month, Channing Frye has suited up a grand total of one game for the Los Angeles Lakers. A buyout candidate, Frye’s absence from the team’s game Thursday night led to speculation that this might indeed happen.
While it’s still a possibility, Frye had a good reason for missing the Lakers’ last game. He underwent Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Cleveland Friday night.
Channing Frye, who missed the last Lakers game, had a successful Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Cleveland last night. He’ll be re-evaluated when he returns to L.A. in about one week.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 17, 2018
Ouch.
Obviously, Frye will be out for some time now.
The Lakers had indicated following the trade that they planned on keeping Frye despite rumors of a buyout. However long it takes for the veteran to return will likely ultimately dictate his future in Southern California. Teams have less than two weeks to add players on the buyout market in order for them to be eligible for postseason basketball.