DeMarre Carroll
Dec 30, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) is fouled as he goes to the basket by Washington Wizards guard Garrett Temple (17) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Wizards 94-91. Reuters/Tom Szczerbowski

The Toronto Raptors will lose DeMarre Carroll for more games this season after the forward underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Wednesday (Thursday in Australia).

RealGM reports that the procedure was done in a New York City hospital and that Carroll’s status for the season is yet to be determined. The Canadian squad signed Carroll during the 2015 offseason to a four-year contract worth US$58 million (AU$82.29 million).

Separate reports state that the estimated time of recovery will be between six to eight weeks. If Carroll can recover in time, he will rejoin the Raptors by the second half of the regular season.

Carroll already missed games this season with a right knee contusion, and the latest development is seen as a blow for the Raptors, which are just 3-3 in their last six games.

Carroll has played in just 23 games for the Raptors and averaged 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 31.9 minutes. Carroll is considered a key player in the Raptors lineup not only this season but in the future.

The small forward is especially valuable for the squad in the postseason, where he is expected to guard the likes of LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, should they meet in the playoffs.

Carroll played for the Atlanta Hawks in the previous two seasons when he broke out as the starting small forward for the squad. Toronto stole him in the 2015 free agency with hopes that he will man their starting SF slot along with DeMar DeRozan on the wing rotation.

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