The new season has not started yet but the Cleveland Cavaliers already face a familiar issue as shooting guard Iman Shumpert is expected to be out for around three months with a wrist injury.
Shumpert has a ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris sheath, which, according to ESPN, he suffered days before the Cavaliers began training camp last Tuesday.
ESPN added that the injury was confirmed through a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was taken last Monday.
Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said during the team's media day that waiting for the injury to heal naturally is not an option, that is why surgery is needed.
Shumpert, who was traded to the Cavaliers last season together with guard J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks, became an important piece to the team's 2014–15 campaign, which saw them reach the NBA Finals.
The 25-year-old shooting guard played in 38 regular season games for Cleveland, averaging 7.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per outing.
In the Cavs' playoff run, Shumpert's performance improved as he played in 24 games and averaged 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.
Because of his contributions last season, the Cavaliers signed him to a four-year deal worth $40 million last July.
The Cavaliers have been dealing with injuries throughout the previous season. Besides Shumpert on the sidelines, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is also still out due to a knee injury suffered in Game 1 of last season's NBA Finals.
Although other players who had injuries like big men Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, and Anderson Varejao participated in Tuesday's practice, according to ESPN.
Cavaliers star LeBron James said injuries will be the only thing stopping them this season, adding that despite Shumpert's injury, they have depth especially at the guard position.
Among the Cavaliers guards who will likely be stepping up in Shumpert's absence are Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, Mo Williams, and James Jones.
