Whaley needs arthroscopic surgery

Jazz rookie big man Robert Whaley needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, the team announced Wednesday.

The cartilage damage was revealed during an MRI exam performed Wednesday.

The Jazz will not know how long to expect Whaley will be out until after the surgery is performed, and it's determined whether or not there is additional damage in the joint.

Early estimates, though, suggest the 6-foot-10, 260-pounder will be out at least two weeks.

"That's at a minimum," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations.

It is not known precisely when Whaley sustained the injury, or if it's a matter of simple wear-and-tear.

"He's not sure," O'Connor said. "He had pain in it one day, and he had pain in it the second day, so we did the MRI."

The medial meniscus is one of two menisci in the knee, along with the lateral. Together, they work to absorb weight and provide stability within the joint.

Whaley has played in 22 games this season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game, including an occasional backup role at center.

The Jazz lost to Seattle on Wednesday night without usual starting Gordan Giricek, who sat out his first game this month — and fifth since early December — due to left Achilles tendinitis.

Backup Devin Brown opened in Giricek's place Wednesday, his seventh start of the season.

Also out Wednesday was forward Matt Harpring, who missed a second straight game due to continued inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

With rookie shooting guard C.J. Miles still assigned to Albuquerque of the NBA Development League and Carlos Boozer still out as he has been all season with a strained hamstring, the Jazz used just 10 players (instead of the usual 12 active) against the Sonics.

O'Connor said Wednesday he was not sure if Whaley's injury would prompt a change in plans to keep Miles in Albuquerque at least through a pair of D-League games this weekend.

"We'll wait and take a look," he said. "We'll evaluate it (today)."

If both Harpring and Giricek are available when Utah plays next, Saturday night at Dallas, the Jazz would not need Miles for their 12-man active roster. If one or the other cannot go, though, there is a place for the 18-year-old.