Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
For the first time since Mike Dunleavy was shut down with an ongoing knee problem, the Indiana Pacers acknowledged on Monday that his season is likely over.
“I think he’s done for the year,” Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien said. “That’s where I think he is. Whether he thinks he is or somebody else does, I’m proceeding as if he’s going to be done for the rest of the year.”
O’Brien’s comments should not come as a big surprise because Dunleavy has not played in over two weeks and he has only been activated in 18 games the entire season. Team officials also confirmed that Dunleavy is seeking outside medical opinions about his knee.
“He’s looking at all his options,” O’Brien said. “It’s disappointing for him, and also something that’s difficult for the franchise to deal with because he makes a lot of money, deservedly so, but you’re operating on a situation where if you don’t have somebody like that, that you’re operating on less of a budget. That’s a difficult situation.”