Lebron James is ready and raring but is his supporting cast equally prepared?
It is a fact that two stars for the Cleveland Cavaliers are not 100% sure of playing by the time the team faces off the Chicago Bulls by the end of this month, and from the looks of it, the woes are piling up.
Iman Shumpert, another vital cog from last year's roster, could be out of action for some time with reports that the 25-year-old shooting guard recently suffered a ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris sheath in his wrist.
The injury will require Shumpert to undergo surgery and will keep the 17th overall draft pick of the 2011 NBA Draft out of commission between 12 to 14 weeks.
This development doesn't seem to be the kind of news that the Cavs would want to hear heading into the 2015–16 NBA season as they will continue to look for ways to cover the injuries besetting key components of last year's roster.
James had to carry the brunt of the Cavs load in the NBA playoffs, and the essence of bringing back practically the whole roster with minor changes in the lineup was seen as a positive sign as the Cavs prep for another run at their first NBA title.
Assuming that Shumpert does recover as scheduled, this means that the earliest time he could rejoin the Cavs would be somewhere in mid-February.
Love is expected to suit up before the year ends while Irving will likely be fielded in by January. The stint of the two will depend on their recovery.
With that said, James and some of the other healthy players will have to cover for now.
Worth noting, of course, is that one player remains at an impasse — Tristan Thompson. With the Canadian forward and the Cavs still unable to strike a deal, resolving the row could somehow ease the pain of manpower shortage that Cavs currently face.
