TITLE: Cavaliers could enter opening night minus Max Strus, Darius Garland
SLUG: cavaliers-could-enter-opening-night-minus-strus-garland
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are bracing for the possibility of starting the 2024-25 season without two projected starters, according to a report by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
Max Strus, penciled in as the club’s starting small forward, sustained a Jones fracture in his left foot last week. The 28-year-old has already undergone surgery and was given an initial recovery window of three to four months. Because Jones fractures often heal slowly and Cleveland traditionally takes a conservative approach with injuries, Strus could end up missing roughly half the season.
Point guard Darius Garland is also unlikely to be available for opening night while he works his way back from offseason toe surgery. His absence leaves head coach Kenny Atkinson with multiple lineup questions as training camp approaches.
Possible replacements
Veteran guard Sam Merrill appears to be the most straightforward plug-in option, Fedor noted. Merrill, who re-signed on a four-year, $38 million contract, could step into the backcourt alongside Donovan Mitchell until Garland is cleared.
In the frontcourt, forward Dean Wade and rookie Jaylon Tyson are expected to compete for expanded roles. Atkinson reportedly prefers to keep recently acquired DeAndre Hunter in a sixth-man slot, which could open a starting spot for Wade. Tyson, the Cavaliers’ 2024 first-round pick, is viewed internally as a potential X-factor and is slated for a heavier workload regardless of Strus’s timeline.
Lonzo Ball’s anticipated role
The Cavaliers also intend to integrate Lonzo Ball into the regular rotation after landing the point guard in an offseason trade. Ball appeared in 35 games last year while working through wrist issues but showed flashes of his pre-injury form.
With Strus and Garland on the mend and training camp still weeks away, Cleveland’s opening-night lineup remains very much in flux.
Source: Hoops Wire
