Jameer Nelson desperately wants to return if the Magic advance and told NBA TV that it was a possibility, but general manager Otis Smith shot down that idea on Thursday.

Nelson had surgery on Feb. 19 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and has started working out in basketball drills again.

"Sometimes people heal faster than others," said Nelson. "I'm pushing myself a little, but I'm not going to do anything stupid. (A return) is definitely possible."

"He's a long way away and he just started shooting last week," Smith said. "He was done for the season in February and that hasn't changed. Right now he's having a hard enough time playing (pick-up) against (athletic trainer) Keon (Wise). It's about his future. If it was up to him he'd play, but it's not up to him. He's moving good, feeling good and looking good, but that's playing against air."