Independence, OH — Newly acquired guard Lonzo Ball said during the Cavaliers’ media day that he believes he could play in both games of a back-to-back at some point this season, although the club’s medical staff has not yet cleared that possibility.
Ball, 26, has not appeared on consecutive nights since the 2020/21 campaign with Chicago. Three knee surgeries sidelined him for two-and-a-half seasons, and the Bulls limited him to single outings in back-to-back sets after his return last year. Cleveland obtained the 6’6″ guard in an offseason trade that sent former lottery pick Isaac Okoro to Chicago, addressing backcourt depth after injuries contributed to a 2025 second-round playoff exit.
Max Strus, the team’s starting wing before suffering an offseason Jones fracture, is five weeks removed from surgery and walking without a boot. The 28-year-old shooter said he will undergo a six-week check-up next week but declined to set a timetable for his return, noting he is “several months” away from game action.
Darius Garland has resumed on-court work following the turf toe injury that hampered him during last spring’s playoffs. The All-Star guard reported steady progress yet would not disclose a target date, saying only that “everything’s been looking great” according to team doctors.
With Strus sidelined, forward De’Andre Hunter expects to open the season in the starting lineup. The 27-year-old finished last year coming off the bench but said, “I feel like that’s a role I will probably have.” Whether he stays in that spot once Strus returns remains undecided.
The Cavaliers finished 64-18 last season before falling in the conference semifinals.
Source: Hoops Rumors
