Abdul-Wahad out for season

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Mavericks fans have had their last look at guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad for this season.

Coach Don Nelson said Abdul-Wahad's left knee is in such bad shape that he will be unable to play again this season, including in the playoffs.

"He won't be ready to play this year because that knee needs a lot of time off," Nelson said. "It's a very bad knee, and it's going to need about six months before it completely heals.

"He needs a long time off, so next year will be his year."

The Mavericks acquired Abdul-Wahad from Denver on Feb. 21 as part of a seven-player trade that also brought Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel to Dallas. But Abdul-Wahad played only 24 minutes in four games for the Mavericks - he was scoreless with six rebounds - before being placed on the injured list March 5 with a sore left knee.

"My leg is not strong enough, and there's still swelling in the knee," Abdul-Wahad said. "It has to get healthy, and I have to get ready for what's going to happen after the season.

"I've been injured for three years, but it's life. Sometimes you have good times, and sometimes you have bad times."