Caron Butler, who suffered a ruptured patellar tendon and was deemed out for the season, said Tuesday that he'll return in four months.

Butler said his history with a similar surgical procedure on his left knee as a teenager leads him to believe that he could return to action in four months.

That timetable would have him back on the court in late April or early May, which would likely be either the end of the first round or the start of the second round of the postseason.

"I know what muscles to keep fired, what little things to do," Butler said. "I just need some time. I've been through this before when I was 15 years old and it took about 4.5 months to come back from, and I was rolling. I was good. I was healthy. So I just need some time."

The typical recovery time for Butler's procedure is four to six months.