On Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that Josh Hart underwent surgery on a torn UCL in his right thumb in New York and will be out at least three weeks before being re-evaluated.
Hart suffered the injury in the Pelicans’ loss to the Magic on Thursday. After the Pelicans announced the injury, Hart sought out treatment options for getting the surgery. The timeline of his recovery makes his status for the remainder of the season a big question mark.
A three-week recovery from the date of his surgery, which is an approximate timeframe per the Pelicans, would see him cleared on April 27, at best. After necessary rehab, he would be looking at roughly two weeks of games, again at best.
However, as tight as the window may be, if the Pelicans are to make a playoff push, his presence would be particularly valuable late in the year in must-win games. It’ll be a tricky balancing act for Hart and the team as they battle for the playoffs and he is set for restricted free agency.
The Pelicans also announced in the same press release that Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday’s win over Houston, will be out at least two weeks before being re-evaluated.
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