CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Wagner's surgery on knee delayed
He has a medical condition that must be cleared before he can have knee surgery.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cleveland Cavaliers guard DaJuan Wagner has an inflamed liver and pancreas and cannot undergo surgery on his right knee until his condition improves.
General manager Jim Paxson said Tuesday that Wagner's latest medical setback was caused by medication prescribed for the player's knee.
The 20-year-old Wagner, who missed 35 games last year with injuries, will have surgery pushed back until the swelling in his liver is gone and the organ is functioning properly.
"They're trying everything they can to get it back to a normal point, it just hasn't happened yet," Paxson said.
Re-evaluation
Wagner will be re-evaluated Friday, and knee surgery will be scheduled once the swelling subsides. He will likely be out four to six weeks once he has the procedure.
Paxson said it's too early to estimate when Wagner might be ready to play this season.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2001 draft began his rookie season on the injured list after being hospitalized for two weeks with a bladder infection. While doing tests, doctors discovered a blood clot in the tube connecting his left kidney and bladder and Wagner had to have surgery.
He missed Cleveland's first 14 games, scoring 17 points in his pro debut against Sacramento in late November.
Had surgery
Wagner then missed the final 20 games of the season after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee. He played on Cleveland's summer league team, but re-injured the knee during training camp last month.
Two weeks ago, the Cavaliers said he would need another operation.
"It's unfortunate that he's having to go through this," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "He wants to play awful bad. We just want him to get well. I hope he can stay positive."