CLEVELAND, Ohio — With the Cavs’ season opener against the New York Knicks just days away, Kenny Atkinson delivered concerning news: potential starting forward De’Andre Hunter might miss the game after banging knees with a Detroit Pistons player in the preseason finale.
This latest setback adds to Cleveland’s growing injury list that already includes Darius Garland (toe surgery) and Max Strus (foot surgery), creating a potential predicament for a team with championship aspirations.
Cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins didn’t mince words about the situation during the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast: “The Cavs in the regular season last year had some relatively good injury luck. Yeah, this year they’re off to a bad start. Darius Garland, the toe surgery carrying over from last year. Max Strus hurting himself ... what if the Cavs have normal, weird injuries during the regular season now?”
This early adversity raises two competing perspectives.
From one angle, these minor setbacks could provide valuable developmental opportunities for younger players like Jaylon Tyson, who may be thrust into a larger role. The regular season can serve as a laboratory for experimenting with lineups and giving prospects meaningful minutes against high-level competition.
Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor offers a more measured take: “Everything that I continue to hear about this situation with De’Andre is that it’s very minor. The Cavs aren’t worried about it. If he happens to miss the opening game against New York, it’s not a big deal because the Cavs aren’t really all that focused on what’s going to happen in October.”
This reflects Cleveland’s big-picture approach, prioritizing playoff readiness over October results.
However, Fedor acknowledges the practical challenges presented by these absences: “If you’re playing against New York on opening night and you’re trying to wipe the sour taste of what happened last year in the playoffs out of your mouth, being short wings against a wing heavy Knicks team is probably not the best situation to be in.”
The timing is particularly problematic against a Knicks team featuring wings like Mikel Bridges and OG Anunoby. Starting the season without Hunter — acquired specifically to address last season’s defensive vulnerabilities on the perimeter — forces Cleveland to navigate their revenge game without a key defensive piece.
While the Cavaliers have openly embraced a cautious approach to injuries, focusing on April rather than October, these early setbacks test their depth and adaptability.
For a team with championship expectations, every game provides critical information about rotation viability and player development. Early injuries may create short-term challenges but could ultimately strengthen Cleveland’s playoff readiness by forcing contributions from deeper in the roster.
As the Cavaliers prepare for Wednesday’s opener, these injury concerns transform what should be a straightforward revenge game into a fascinating test of their organizational philosophy and depth. Will their cautious approach to injuries ultimately prove wise, or could these early absences foreshadow a rockier road ahead?
Tune in to the Wine and Gold Talk podcast for more insider perspectives as the Cavaliers navigate these early-season challenges and prepare for their championship pursuit.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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