:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/25691575/20120229_pjc_au3_085.0.jpg)
The Orlando Magic have until January 7th to end their relationship with veteran small forward Hedo Türkoğlu, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. If they keep him beyond that date, his $12 million contract will become fully guaranteed.
"For now, only $6 million of his $12 million salary for this season is guaranteed," Robbins says. "But, in order to owe him just $6 million, the Magic must waive him or trade him no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 7."
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told the Sentinel before Orlando opened training camp that he and Türkoğlu mutually agreed that it'd be best for Türkoğlu to not be around the team. "We've made an organizational decision to move in a different direction," he said then.
Türkoğlu has played 497 games in a Magic uniform, sixth in team history, but his long tenure with the club will end on a sour note. A broken hand sustained in the first game of the 2012/13 season kept him out of action for an extended period. On top of that injury, he earned a 20-game suspension from the NBA for testing positive for a banned substance. Orlando did not play him even after he had served his suspension, preferring instead to allocate his minutes to Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris, two prospects at Türkoğlu's position of small forward.
Steve Kyler of HOOPSWORLD reported Monday that Türkoğlu "has been working out privately in Orlando" during his team-imposed exile. The 34-year-old "wants to play this season," according to Kyler, but he will not get that opportunity in Orlando.
