Mar 16, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye (8) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Suns beat the Raptors 121-113. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic season hasn’t even begun yet and they already face adversity.
Free agent signing Channing Frye has sprained the MCL in his left knee after colliding with Ben Gordon during practice Thursday.
The Magic, as you know, hate to assign timelines to returns from injury. It's unclear how severe the sprain is.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) October 3, 2014
"“I don’t know the severity,” Frye told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. “I don’t really ask those questions. I feel pretty good. I know it’s injured right now, but at the same time, I just want to take it day-by-day. I know it’s super-cliché. But with knee things, especially this time of year, I don’t want anything nagging. I don’t want any excuses for the year.“It’s a freak accident. It could’ve been way worse. I’m pretty impressed at how quickly they got me assessed, and now they’re starting to get me on some different things to help with it all, and I’m pretty confident that with the way I take care of my body I could be all right.”"
Frye signed a four-year $32 million deal in the offseason.
It’s likely that Frye misses the start of the regular season. Orlando’s season opener is on Oct. 28. An MCL sprain typically takes between 4-6 weeks to heal from.
Kyle O’Quinn and Andrew Nicholson will likely get Frye’s minutes now. Regardless of Frye’s injury, Tobias Harris was always expected to have a big role this season. The injury could also open up more playing time for rookie Aaron Gordon.
The Magic’s first preseason game is Tuesday night when they travel to Miami to face the Heat.