Stuckey, who wowed NBA personnel folks with a dynamic turn at the Las Vegas Summer League, broke his left hand in the Pistons’ final preseason game on Oct. 24 and was initially expected to miss six weeks. But the multiple fractures to three fingers still hadn’t fully calcified when Stuckey was last X-rayed, two weeks ago at the six-week mark. That last bridge was crossed Thursday.

The Pistons held only a light optional workout Thursday, which means Stuckey’s first significant practice time will come on Saturday with the Pistons between home games Friday against Memphis and Sunday against Houston. Pistons coach Flip Saunders has said he would likely choose to have Stuckey participate in at least a few practices before activating him for games, though it’s possible Stuckey could be in uniform as early as Sunday.

Stuckey, a 6-foot-5 combination guard out of Eastern Washington, was the 15th pick in June’s draft. The Pistons view him as their backup for Chauncey Billups at point guard with the capacity to play either backcourt position. Two point guards were taken ahead of Stuckey – Memphis selected Ohio State freshman Mike Conley fourth overall and Atlanta took Texas A&M senior Acie Law 11th.

Stuckey’s sterling Summer League play – he averaged 19 points, four rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field and 90 percent from the line – and his subsequent performance at NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich’s annual Las Vegas camp against a mix of NBA veterans and young players had observers buzzing. Most, in fact, suggested Stuckey should have been a top-five pick and would likely be chosen ahead of Conley and Law if the draft were redone.

In the preseason, Stuckey averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists and was dazzling in the final preseason game against Washington, when he scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in just 14 minutes before getting his hand awkwardly caught in an opponent’s jersey and suffering the multiple fractures.

It remains to be seen how Stuckey’s return will affect Detroit’s backcourt rotation immediately. Lindsey Hunter has leapfrogged Flip Murray as Billups’ backup at point guard and Stuckey’s fellow rookie No. 1 draft pick, Arron Afflalo, has been steady as a situational substitute behind Rip Hamilton at point guard. It’s likely Stuckey will ease into the rotation behind Billups and eventually challenge to become the primary backup at both backcourt spots.