Celtics' Faverani still a month from practicing

Any Boston Celtics fan who had circled a mid-December date on their calendar for the return of Vitor Faverani is going to be disappointed.

Of course, anyone who did that probably has a lot to be disappointed about anyway.

In any case, Faverani isn't due back for some time. Originally ruled out for six-to-eight weeks after undergoing left knee surgery in mid-October, Faverani is already at the long end of that timeline. He's not even close to a return, with head coach Brad Stevens saying Sunday that Faverani is still a month away from even practicing.

This isn't all that big a deal for the Celtics on the court, as the 26-year-old Faverani would probably find himself deep in the frontcourt rotation once healthy. Last season, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13.2 minutes, but expanded roles for Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger leave little more than spot duty minutes available.

Instead, it makes the team's decision not to cut Faverani in the offseason a little more curious. Faverani is owed $2.1 million in guaranteed salary and will be a restricted free agent following the season, and it was thought the team could waive him instead of Will Bynum to get down to 15 players. That would have given Boston an extra guard when their backcourt rotation was thin early in the year, and it also would have given them a larger expiring salary (Bynum is being paid $2.9 million) for trade purposes.

At the very least, Faverani will be an extra body if he can return later in the year, and it could give the Celtics one final look at him before deciding whether or not to give him a qualifying offer this summer.