The Cleveland Cavaliers enter training camp focused on limiting guard Donovan Mitchell’s workload and keeping close tabs on newcomer Lonzo Ball as the club waits for injured starters Darius Garland and Max Strus to heal, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported.
Mitchell logged the fewest minutes of his career last year but still appeared in 71 games, his highest total since the 2018-19 season. Cleveland hopes a similar plan preserves the All-Star throughout the upcoming campaign.
Garland, sidelined after toe surgery on June 9, has returned to on-court activity, yet the team will continue to monitor his progress. Strus underwent surgery for a Jones fracture in his left foot in late August and is not expected to be re-evaluated for another three to four months.
To bolster depth, the Cavaliers signed Ball as a replacement for Ty Jerome and as additional insurance while Garland recovers. Ball played 35 games for Chicago last season following two years lost to multiple left knee surgeries, then missed the Bulls’ final 23 contests with a wrist injury and topped 30 minutes only once. Cleveland believes 45–50 regular-season appearances plus a healthy playoff run from Ball would represent a significant boost.
Key contract dates are also approaching. Oct. 20 is the deadline to extend Garland and DeAndre Hunter, while Oct. 31 marks the cutoff to exercise Jaylon Tyson’s third-year option. Dean Wade, Strus, Garland and Hunter are eligible for extensions as of Oct. 1.
Source: Hoops Wire
