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Lynch to undergo fot surgery

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- George Lynch, who the Charlotte Hornets acquired last week in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, will undergo left foot surgery and miss two to three months, the team announced on Monday.

It is not a new injury for Lynch, who suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot during the Sixers' run to the NBA Finals last season. The 6-8 forward had surgery shortly after the Finals and had missed the entire preseason.

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The decision for Lynch to undergo another surgical procedure was made after he underwent a physical with Hornets doctors Friday.

Lynch was the key acquisition in a three-team trade Thursday that sent enigmatic power forward Derrick Coleman to the 76ers. The Hornets also got Jerome Moiso and Robert Traylor from Philadelphia and received Chris Porter in the deal from Golden State.

The trade was contingent on all players passing their physicals. The Hornets could void the trade due to the foot problem, but executive vice president of basketball operations Bob Bass said they would not.

"We didn't know the extent of the injury, so it was hard to tell when he was going to be able to play," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "Whenever he can play, he'll be a welcome addition. It's not quite the same as losing a player who had already worked his way in. It's just two bad it happened and he has to go back into surgery."

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Lynch spent three seasons in Philadelphia, averaging 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds and owns career averages of 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in eight NBA campaigns.

Along with Lynch, the Hornets placed Moiso (knee tendinits) and first-round pick, forward Kirk Haston (back spasms) on the injured list.

Haston, who was selected with the 16th overall pick in June's draft, played in eight preseason games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest.

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