Hedo Türkoğlu injury: Magic forward progressing, but no timetable for return

Hedo Türkoğlu left the first Orlando Magic game of the 2012/13 season with a broken left hand and hasn't played since, but the veteran small forward is making progress in his return to the court, writes John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. Türkoğlu is leery of predicting when he might return, however.

"I hate to give timetables, but I’m just happy that my cast came off," Türkoğlu said Thursday. Doctors had to re-apply the cast to Türkoğlu's hand when they learned a screw inserted during the initial surgery had come loose, which discovery set Türkoğlu's recovery efforts back.

"I have started to do more stuff (in practice) with both hands," Türkoğlu said. "The timeline right now is to do more stuff with both hands and see how I feel and go from there."

Four different players have started at small forward in Türkoğlu's place, including DeQuan Jones and Josh McRoberts, both of whom have since fallen out of coach Jacque Vaughn's playing rotation. Maurice Harkless has occupied that position for the Magic's last 11 games.

Türkoğlu owns career averages of 12 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. The Magic certainly miss his size, versatility, and outside shooting touch, but his absence has afforded Vaughn the opportunity to see what Harkless, a 19-year-old rookie, has to offer.

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