Kings forward Lawrence Funderburke, who is in the final year of a five-year contract, will miss much of this season after undergoing surgery Monday on his left Achilles tendon. The surgery to relieve Funderburke's chronic tendinitis revealed a partial tear in the tendon.

Funderburke is expected to be in a series of casts through mid-January, when he would begin six weeks of physical therapy.

Funderburke, who turns 33 on Dec. 15, is expected to miss at least six months -- which puts his status for the upcoming season in jeopardy.

According to league and team sources, Funderburke -- and his $3.65 million contract -- had been shopped around the NBA this summer as the Kings sought to reduce salary, and some kind of deal remains an option.

The Minnesota Timberwolves this summer traded injured guard Terrell Brandon's contract to Atlanta in a salary move.

The rarely-used Funderburke has been hampered by pain in both feet the past few seasons. He played in a career-low 27 games last season and missed 16 with Achilles tendinitis in his left foot and a sore right foot.