Cairns Taipans' million-dollar recruit Jack McVeigh faces an indefinite period on the NBL sidelines with a wrist injury, in a huge blow to his struggling team.
McVeigh was noticeably hampered in his shooting motion and took just six field-goal attempts during the Taipans' heavy defeat to league-leaders Melbourne United last Sunday.
It was a third defeat by 30-plus points in six games for Adam Forde's team (2-4) this season and left them already facing an uphill battle to make the top six.
Former NBA forward McVeigh has been battling bone bruising in the wrist since a round-two defeat to Brisbane and the Taipans have finally decided to put him on ice.
"We sent him for an MRI last week which cleared (McVeigh) of a break," coach Forde told reporters on Thursday.
"We wanted to take a conservative approach for how we manage his wrist.
"His wrist is in a splint which takes away his best aspect of shooting.
"We want him to rest and get his wrist right knowing it's still early in the season.
"It shuffles the deck, but we want to manage his wrist and get him back on the court as soon as possible."
McVeigh was the star of Tasmania's NBL championship-winning team in 2024 and spent last season with the NBA's Houston Rockets.
The 29-year-old, who represented Australia at the Paris Olympics, has averaged 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season.
Cairns are aiming to avoid a third straight defeat when they host the Adelaide 36ers in round-five action on Saturday night.
