The Wolves this morning announced that newly signed Chase Budinger has injured the cartilage in his left knee, the same one that kept him out for four months last season.
Budinger will visit Dr. James Andrews early next week in Birmingham, Alabama, and Flip Saunders said this afternoon that Budinger might see Ricky Rubio's surgeon, Dr. Richard Steadman, in Vail, Colorado as well.
Budinger will have arthroscopic surgery to explore swelling in the knee that has developed recently.
"The main thing is, we want to get it right," Saunders said.
Budinger last week said his knee was recovered from last winter's surgery, but he also said it remained sore after workouts and required ice treatments that he'd probably have to do all season.
Andrews was the surgeon who operated on Budinger's left knee to repair a torn meniscus last November after he injured it in a game in Chicago.
The Wolves in July signed Budinger to a three-year, $15 million contract. Saunders said a physical exam then showed everything was fine, as did a visit with Andrews about a month ago.
Saunders said the new problem with Budinger's knee developed in the last month and said it wasn't caused by one particular hit or twist while playing.
