To the IR Goes Nicolas Batum

The scrawny forward will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. It’s the same injury DWade and Jameer Nelson suffered: “Nicolas Batum, who was expected to be the Trail Blazers starting small forward in Tuesday’s season opener, instead will have surgery on his right shoulder. The team announced this morning that Batum has a torn labrum and the surgery will be Friday. No immediate announcement was made about Batum’s replacement in the starting lineup, but Martell Webster, who was the starter before missing last season with an injured foot, is the most obvious possibility.”