In the event the Dean Wade injury wasn’t enough, the Cavaliers have also been missing Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert.
Cleveland confirmed Tuesday that Wade has been diagnosed with a right knee bone bruise, and will be out for at least the next two weeks. And it’s quite possible that Okoro could face a similar recovery timeline.
Okoro, who had missed eight games in late December and early January due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, had returned to action on January 8, but aggravated the injury during a Jan. 16 game against Oklahoma City.
He has been unavailable for the Cavs’ last six games, and it’s very clear the Cavs are being cautious with his recovery.
“Shoulders are tricky — as the complete amateur I am,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said recently. “He will never say this, but you could see that he was feeling it even before he got hit again. A lot of these guys aren’t 100 percent.
“But a shoulder is tricky. It’s like a pitcher. That is what you’re shooting with. Any kind of discomfort there … we’re going to figure that one out. I told him, ‘We need you as close to 100 percent as possible. You don’t have to rush this thing.’ I want him thinking long-term. We need him down the road.”
The Cavs are also dealing with the absence of LeVert, who has missed five consecutive games due to a sprained right wrist.
While LeVert is reportedly day-to-day, he continues to feel pain in the wrist, particularly when he tests it during shooting sessions. He most recently felt discomfort during an on-court shooting session on Monday.
“I think that’s more day-to-day,” Atkinson said of LeVert’s situation. “That’s my feel with it. Still not feeling right. These are sensitive things when it comes to shooting the ball. If a guy is not feeling it, we err on the side of caution.”
In the meantime, Max Strus has stepped into a larger role. Strus, who didn’t make his season debut until December 20 due to his own health issues, has started each of the Cavs’ last five games.
With the team’s other small forwards nursing injuries, it seems likely that Strus will continue to play an important role in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. Withiout question, his solid contributions have been essential as Cleveland navigates this injury-plagued stretch.
The Cavaliers (37-9) are doing their best to stay contenders despite the injuries, but it’s clear that the depth and the health of their key players will be crucial as they push for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.
The next couple of weeks will be telling in terms of how quickly these players can return to full health and if the Cavs can weather the storm.
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