Cairns Taipans' million-dollar recruit Jack McVeigh faces an indefinite period on the NBL sidelines with a wrist injury, in a huge blow to his struggling team.

McVeigh was noticeably hampered in his shooting motion and took just six field-goal attempts during the Taipans' heavy defeat to league-leaders Melbourne United last Sunday.

It was a third defeat by 30-plus points in six games for Adam Forde's team (2-4) this season and left them already facing an uphill battle to make the top six.

Former NBA forward McVeigh has been battling bone bruising in the wrist since a round-two defeat to Brisbane and the Taipans have finally decided to put him on ice.

"We sent him for an MRI last week which cleared (McVeigh) of a break," coach Forde told reporters on Thursday.

"We wanted to take a cons

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