Former NBA player Shavlik Randolph gave a slightly more positive outcome for Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, after he suffered a dislocated left ankle and tibial fracture in the opening minutes of the team's season-opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Randolph suffered a similar injury in his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, breaking and dislocating his left ankle during a practice after stepping on the foot of Andre Iguodala. His injury occurred 14 games into the season, missing the remainder of the 2006-07 campaign after being taken by the ambulance.

The former NBA journeyman, who now plays in China, described the recovery and rehabilitation procedure, giving a certain air of encouragement that Hayward could see the floor by the end of the season.

“It's about a 4-6 month recovery. The ligaments take 6-8 weeks and the tibia was about three months to heal in all the places it broke,” Randolph told ESPN's Jeff Goodman. “Ironically, I had the same injury and as bad as it looks it does heal back to 100 percent and does so surprisingly fast.”

“I think there's a chance he could be back this season if he really pushed it. The team will be cautious to bring him back too fast, but I think he could by the end of the season. Maybe not back to full 100 percent by then, but I wouldn't be shocked if he can and does play.”

Word to the wise — injuries heal differently for different people, and while doctors can give timelines, they can fluctuate depending on how the bone and tendon act throughout recovery and the intensity of the rehabilitation process.

Also worth noting is that the 6-foot-10 Randolph's 100-percent-recovery involves a much different program than Hayward's. Randolph made his niche in the league as a stretch-four that could rebound, while Hayward's game brings a completely different dynamic to the table.

Gordon Hayward
The Associated Press

Hayward will be forced to go behind screens, cut, handle the ball, and finish near the rim contorting his body at awkward angles, his rehabilitation will include stronger, torque-intensive landings that will push that ankle to its limits before being cleared to take the floor.

The 6-foot-8 prized small forward is coming off signing a lucrative four-year, $128 million deal this summer, and the Celtics will be utmost careful with his recovery schedule — even if it means sitting him out regardless of the situation come April.