Jay Williams, who suffered a broken pelvis and
knee injuries in a motorcycle crash last week, will likely miss the entire
2003-2004 season, the Chicago Bulls admitted on Monday.
The injures to Williams are so severe that the team may be able to get a
salary cap exemption for this coming season.
However, the Bulls would not comment further on the injury or his prognosis
for long-term rehabilitation, citing federal privacy laws.
Williams, the number two pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, remains in intensive
care at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital and is expected to need more surgery.
The 21-year-old was riding a new sports bike he had purchased a week earlier
on Thursday afternoon.
It slammed into a pole on Chicago's north side and Williams sustained
extensive injuries to his left leg, undergoing surgery that night.
"When we think about him we think in terms of this young man who is 21 that
made a mistake in terms of judgment, but that's not the issue," Bulls general
manager John Paxson said.
"The issue is him getting better and that's all we're focused on as an
organisation."
Williams had a somewhat disappointing regular season last year and was the
subject of trade rumours, as the Bulls also have Jamal Crawford at point guard.
The NBA Draft is on Thursday and due to his injury, there will obviously be
no trade at this time.
