Report: Magic looking to move Turkoglu, will waive otherwise

Hedo Turkoglu hasn't been spotted in the NBA this season, away from the Orlando Magic as the team reportedly negotiates a buy-out with the former Most Improved Player.

However, an important date looms in buy-out talks, as Turkoglu's $12 million salary for this season becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 7. Like with Andrew Bynum's partial guarantee in Cleveland, Turkoglu's contract is now an interesting trade chip.

While few teams are likely to pay Turkoglu that sizable salary - he averaged just 2.9 points on 26.4 percent shooting in 11 games last season - it's possible teams could be interested in a swap for salary and luxury tax purposes.

That is, by assuming Turkoglu in a deal, a team could send out roughly $16 million in salary and then waive Turkoglu, paying him just the $6 million guaranteed to him and saving up to $10 million in cap space (and an appreciable amount in real dollars, the prorated amount of any salary they send out). Thus, any team with salary ballast to trade and a desire to slash payroll or a luxury tax bill could be interested.

Whether or not the rebuilding Magic would take back money is unclear, though a team could also "pay" Orlando to do so by sweetening the deal with a pick.

In any case, the Magic are sure to work the phones over the next week, but they're not expected to find a taker.

Turkoglu's people are reportedly confident that he'll find a team once waived, however, so we may see the Turkish point forward in the league once again.