HoopsHype.com Rumors

Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli underwent successful surgery yesterday on his right knee, the team announced. The procedure, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, was necessary to reinforce both the medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in Ezeli’s right knee. Ezeli suffered a sprained right knee during the club’s regular-season finale this season at Portland on April 17. He will begin rehabilitation in the near future and is expected to make a complete recovery. The team’s medical staff indicates that recovery time could be a minimum of 6-9 months. NBA.com

Golden State Warriors, Injuries, Festus Ezeli 

Rusty Simmons: Harrison Barnes said he'll practice with the summer-league team, but doesn't know if he'll play in games. DGreen and FEzeli will both play. Twitter @Rusty_SFChron

Golden State Warriors, Summer League, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Festus Ezeli 

Festus Ezeli: #rp shoutout to best fans. Thank you for all the support guys!!! Surreal that it's over. We'll be back… instagram.com/p/ZZ4ERUr7i5/ Twitter @fezzyfel

Golden State Warriors, Festus Ezeli 

Brett Pollakoff: Greatness: George Karl says Festus Ezeli has “really blossomed into an elbowing a--hole guy.” bit.ly/12YeQba Twitter @BrettEP

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Festus Ezeli 

Marcus Thompson: Mark Jackson on his rookies: "We drafted three grown men. ... We drafted three pros. ... We got three home runs in the draft." Twitter @gswscribe

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Festus Ezeli 

Warriors center Festus Ezeli only played six minutes in Game 1. A sprained right knee, now imprisoned by a bulky brace, has left him with less than his usual mobility and explosiveness. Ezeli has to wear the brace in Game 2 because his knee is still not ready to go without it. He sprained it in the season finale and has been trying to get it right since. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Injuries, Festus Ezeli 

Mark Jackson, for the first time, downplayed Bogut's impact vs. DEN. But Ezeli is wearing a bulky right knee brace because he sprained his right knee last game. He said it's fine, but he doesn't know how much the brace will slow him up. Still, Biedrins said he can help in this series. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Injuries, Festus Ezeli 

Festus Ezeli: All star team or not I'm proud of both our leaders @David Lee and @Stephen Curry Twitter @fezzyfel

Golden State Warriors, David Lee, Stephen Curry, Festus Ezeli, All Star Game 

Marcus Thompson: Mark Jackson said he didn't think Ezeli committed a flagrant on Blake: "He's a great actor. I've seen those Kia commercials." Twitter @gswscribe

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Festus Ezeli 

"I'm definitely surprised by the Warriors," the scout said. "Everybody has improved for them over the course of the year, and from a coaching standpoint they've got a better feel for what they have. They understand how to put the guys into situations to be successful. Festus Ezeli has been a surprise to everyone. He's physical and athletic. He's not a great offensive player, but he can finish around the rim, and he gives them a defensive presence to help resolve one of the issues they've had in previous years. I'm surprised by their defense and their mental toughness, which has been shown on the road already by the games they've won in the East. SI.com

Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Festus Ezeli 

Festus Ezeli: That was for #4BRush!!! @Brandon Rush Twitter @fezzyfel

Golden State Warriors, Brandon Rush, Injuries, Festus Ezeli 

Festus Ezeli: Omg @Mark Jackson is following me?? I must have finally made it! After 4 months??? #imjustsayn Twitter @fezzyfel

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Festus Ezeli 

Tim Kawakami: If Warriors stay at 30 or move into late-20s, names to consider: F Quincy Miller, C Festus Ezeli and G Darius Johnson-Ddom. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Quincy Miller, Darius Johnson-Odom, Festus Ezeli 

The Heat also have a first-round pick, No. 27, this week that they are expected to use on a backup big man such as Fab Melo of Syracuse, Andrew Nicholson of St. Bonaventure or Festus Ezeli of Vanderbilt depending on who might be available. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Draft, Fab Melo, Andrew Nicholson, Festus Ezeli 

Michael Cunningham: MT @HawksPRGuy: Sat. #Hawks draft workouts- F. Ezeli (Vandy), S. Machado (Iona), F. Melo (Syracuse), H. Sims (Georgetown). Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Draft, Fab Melo, Scott Machado, Festus Ezeli, Henry Sims 

Al Horford: "We have the 23rd pick and I know the team will draft the best player available. I would like to pick a shooter like Kentucky's Doron Lamb. But it wouldn't bother me if they picked a big who could help me like Festus Ezeli (Vanderbilt). Anyway, I doubt they will pick Jeff Teague's brother, Marquis Teague." Primera Hora

Draft, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague, Festus Ezeli 

Ezeli worked out for the Cavaliers on Monday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. He is projected to be either a late first- or early second-round pick, meaning he should be available when the Cavaliers select at No. 24 and perhaps even with their second-round picks (Nos. 33 and 34). Sun Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Festus Ezeli 

The first time he played organized basketball was in the SEC. Festus Ezeli had a crazy ride to the low post, moving from Nigeria at 14 to live with an uncle. He didn't play high school ball. Instead, his basketball experience was as a videographer for a nearby junior college. But the dude grew — he's listed at 6-foot-11, 255 pounds — and Vanderbilt gave him a shot. Denver Post

Draft, Festus Ezeli 

He is now a potential late first-round draft pick, and the Nuggets worked him out Tuesday, along with nine second-round or free-agent prospects. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Draft, Festus Ezeli, Workouts 

Ezeli worked out for the Cavaliers on Monday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. He is projected to be either a late first- or early second-round pick, meaning he should be available when the Cavs select at No. 24 and perhaps even with their second-round picks (Nos. 33 and 34). Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Festus Ezeli