Leonardo Barbosa latest Celtics player out for the season

Leonardo Barbosa, the Boston Celtics Brazilian Guard will sit out the remainder of the season after an ACL tear in his left knee. The Celtics announced the injury on Tuesday night.

The injury sustained by Barbosa was picked up late in the 3rd quarter during the Celtics’ game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday. Not only did the Celtics lose the game, but they have also lost Barbosa for the season, after the guard sustained the noncontact injury and had to be carried from the court.

An MRI scan conducted at New England Baptist Hospital on Tuesday confirmed that the player had torn his left ACL, meaning the Celtics sustained its third season ending injury within the last 3 weeks. Star point guard Rajon Rondo tore his right ACL during a game with Atlanta on January 25th, and he will undergo surgery to repair the tear.

Rookie Jared Sullinger will also sit out the season after back spasms during a game with Sacramento on January 30th revealed the power forward would need lumbar disk surgery. The injury was a particular blow to Sullinger, who was only playing his second game in the starting line-up.

Questions will now be raised about Barbosa’s future with the Celtics. Unlike Sullinger and Rondo, Barbosa is only on a yearlong contract, and speculation is growing that Barbosa could become a buy-out candidate if the team needs a new roster spot. The 30-year old vented his frustrations just last month because he was playing second fiddle to Rondo, and there was even talk that Barbosa was seeking a way out of the Celtics. That changed with Rondo’s injury, but perhaps the decision to leave the franchise is now out of Barbosa’s hands.