Just when it appeared the Cleveland Cavaliers were approaching full health, the injury bug is biting in Northeast Ohio yet again. The team announced on Tuesday that guard Iman Shumpert will miss at least three months of play due to surgery on his right wrist.
Here’s the release on the matter, courtesy of Cleveland’s website.
Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert recently suffered a ruptured Extensor Carpi Ulnaris sheath in his right wrist. The extent of the injury was confirmed by MRI at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health yesterday by Dr. Thomas Graham and Dr. Richard Parker. Shumpert will have surgery to repair his wrist Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic. His return to play is currently projected to be 12 to 14 weeks.
GM David Griffin says the fifth-year guard suffered the injury while working out last week.
David Griffin on Iman Shumpert: "In training last week he had an issue where he hit the rim with his R wrist … I believe catching a lob"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 29, 2015
Shumpert battled various ailments throughout the full calendar of 2014-15, too, including shoulder pain that required painkillers during June’s NBA Finals.
This breaking news is an obvious blow for the Cavaliers. The reigning Eastern Conference champions lack the proven wing depth to withstand Shumpert’s prolonged absence without any decline, not to mention another player on the roster – save for an engaged LeBron James – who boasts the flat-topped wing’s defensive ability. Expect J.R. Smith or summer addition Mo Williams to take his place in the starting lineup, while seldom-used sophomore Joe Harris will surely see an increase in floor time, too.
With Kevin Love returning to the floor following last spring’s shoulder surgery and Kyrie Irving expected to follow just shortly thereafter, Cleveland seemed primed for a dominant regular season in 2015-16 – especially considering that James recently said he expects Tristan Thompson’s ongoing contract dispute to be resolved soon. But this latest health setback is a complicating factor for the Cavaliers, who will find a difficult time striking an ideal two-way balance with their resident “stopper” sidelined.
Even so, Shumpert’s injury doesn’t change Cleveland’s long-term outlook. The success of its season will be decided in June, not November, December, or January. And as long as the Cavaliers’ starting shooting guard is playing at full-strength next spring, his injury should prove a minor blip on the team’s road to another NBA Finals.
(Via Cavaliers)
