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The Cleveland Cavaliers got crucial injury updates on Evan Mobley and other players, while rumors of a LeBron James return continue to grow.
TheCleveland Cavaliers are at an interesting point in the season and theteam’s history in general, asright now they are looking to make a playoff push with Donovan Mitchell and new addition James Harden, but at the same time, rumors about a LeBron James return next season continue to grow.
However, amid the major shake-up made by the team at the trade deadline, sending Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harden, the Cavaliers have been dealing with a number of health concerns, but the latest injury updates on Evan Mobley and Dean Wade are a good sign for the team.
According to team insider Spencer Davies, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that both Mobley and Wadeare expected to return inCleveland’s first game after the All-Star break against the Brooklyn Nets.
Spencer Davies
Evan Mobley and Dean Wade are “trending toward playing” tomorrow vs. Nets, #Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said.
“Evan Mobley and Dean Wade are “trending toward playing”tomorrow vs. Nets,#Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said,”Davies wrote in a post on X.
Evan Mobley, Dean Wade, And Max Strus Injury Updates
Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year,hasn’t suited up in a few weeks after suffering a calf injury in late January. While his absence on both sides of the floorwas certainly missed, Cleveland went 6-1 while he was out, but getting the big man back for his first minutes alongside Harden is good news for the title hopefuls.
On the season, Mobley is averaging 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds,four assists, andtwo blocks per game on 54.2% shooting. His shooting percentage and scoring average could very well increase playing alongside Harden as a lob threat, but the Cavaliers will likely be cautious with his approach as they hope to keep him healthy for a playoff push.
Wadeis also expected to return for Cleveland. While he has yet to become a consistent starter, the wing has been one of the most important role players for the team over the past few seasons.He only missed a few games for the Cavalierswith an ankle injury, but his return is also agood sign as the team hopes tojump up in thestandings over the next few weeks.
Additionally,per Davies, Atkinsonoffered an update on Max Strus, who has yet to play a game for Cleveland this season after suffering a Jones fracture in his foot over the summer and undergoing subsequent surgery.
Spencer Davies
#Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson on Max Strus: “Progressing. Really did a pretty high-level workout today. No contact still, but he’s starting to ramp up. It’s like, don’t get too excited, but he’s doing a lot more, so that’s good news.”
“Progressing. Really did a pretty high-level workout today,”Davies wrote in a post on X, quoting Atkinson. “No contact still, buthe’s starting to ramp up.It’s like,don’t get too excited, buthe’s doing a lot more, sothat’s good news.”
The Cavaliers have been one of the more unhealthy teams across the first two-thirds of the season. However, Garland is no longer a part of that equation, and with the ever-consistently healthy Mitchell and Harden now in the backcourt, along with getting Mobley back, Cleveland will likely continue their push up the standings in the final two months of the regular season.
LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers Return Rumors
Amid the ups and downs this season for the Cavs, an underlying storyline for the franchise this year is the potential return of James in whatis expected to be the final chapter of his illustrious career. Jamesis set to be a free agent this summer, and according to insider Dave McMenamin, Cleveland is open to a return for the 2016 Finals MVP over the summer.
“Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team,”he wrote amid James and the Lakers playing his old team earlier in the regular season.
Most recently, Brian Windhorst also reported that a James return to Cleveland could be in the cards, but it would likely have to come on the condition that he would arrive on either a minimum or mid-level contract, considering they have the highest payroll in the entire NBA.
ESPN Cleveland
“If he’s able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I think it’s 99%,” – @WindhorstESPN on LeBron James and the Cavs.
Windy notes that LeBron would have to probably accept a minimum contract in Cleveland.
“He would only come at a discount. The only way the Cavs could add him would be to get him to play at either the minimum, or do some things to shave some salary to open the mid-level exception,” Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland Radio. “Ifhe’s able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I thinkit’s 99%.”
Yet still, rumors have been consistent over the past few weeks that both James is eyeing a return, and that both Harden and Mitchell are recruiting him back home.
Any future with theleague’s all-time leading scorer would force him to take the chance of winning a fifth career title over drastically increasing his career earnings, but so far, itcan’t be ruled out.
“From theCavs’ perspective,it’s simple,”Windhorst added. “They say to LeBron, ‘If you would like to play for us,we’d love to have you, this is what we have to offer. We can offer you (a minimum or mid-level contract), and being in Cleveland.‘”
But right now, Cleveland is focused on this season, and getting back a few of their key contributors bodes well for the final third of the regular season.