New Orleans Pelicans wing Darius Miller signed the biggest contract of his career this summer, but he could miss all of 2019-20.
The 29-year-old player inked a two-year, $14.25 million deal in July, but the Pelicans announced Thursday that he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Miller suffered the injury playing 3-on-3 basketball and while New Orleans didn't give an expected timetable for his return, ESPN reports he should miss seven to eight months of the season and be back practicing in five to six months.
He averaged a career-high 8.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 2018-19 and has spent all five of his NBA seasons with the Pelicans.
The Kentucky product was drafted alongside his collegiate teammate Anthony Davis in 2012 and is looking forward to the new direction of the team, as Davis was shipped to the Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and a host of future first-round picks this summer.
“The changes have been amazing,” Miller said earlier this month. “To lose a player like Anthony, and to bounce back like this, this fast, is amazing. The type of people (David Griffin) brought in is unbelievable, especially in that short amount of time. I’m really excited to get the season going. Just being around here for the past couple weeks, just to see the atmosphere and how everybody’s feeling, I think we’re all pretty excited to get going.”
New Orleans still has loads of young talent to fill the void left by Miller, including 2019's top pick, Zion Williamson.
