Raptors' Carroll out indefinitely with right knee contusion

Toronto Raptors small forward DeMarre Carroll is out indefinitely with a right knee contusion, the team announced Monday.

There's currently no timetable for his return.

One of the main reasons Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri signed Carroll to a four-year contract this past offseason was the need for an elite wing defender to take some of the defensive pressure off high-octane scorer DeMar DeRozan. Carroll's extended absence will likely put the Raptors in a defensive bind for the foreseeable future.

The 29-year-old Carroll is averaging 12.2 points, and 5.1 rebounds on 38.6 percent shooting from the field in 18 appearances for the 12-9 Raptors. He missed time earlier this season due to plantar fasciitis, and the Raptors went 1-2 in his absence. Their only victory during that span came against the woeful Philadelphia 76ers.

Terrence Ross, and James Johnson should see an uptick in minutes with Carroll on the sidelines. It was Johnson - who recently vented on Twitter over a lack of playing time - who got inserted into the starting lineup at the three spot during Carroll's November absence, although it will be Ross getting the call on Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.