Point guard Randy Foye, who has missed the entire season with an injured left knee, was cleared by doctors on Monday to begin more strenuous workouts in preparation for a return to the team.

Coach Randy Wittman, basketball boss Kevin McHale, and Foye himself all said the second-year player isn't close to playing in a game yet, but the news certainly came as a sigh of relief to a team that has lost eight in a row and is a league-worst 4-29 this year.

"It's a boost for me anyway," Wittman said. "I can't speak for [the players]. You can ask them that question. It's a boost to me. It's positive."