Iman Shumpert Out Another 2 to 3 Weeks for Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Iman Shumpert and many thought that it would pay quick dividends. Shumpert is coming back from a dislocated shoulder but many expected that he would return soon. This great interview with Chris Herring, over at Fear the Sword, about Shumpert made it seem like he would return soon:

"2. To start with Iman Shumpert, he’s currently out with a shoulder injury. How serious is that injury and when can the Cavs expect him back?Less than an hour before he was traded, I was watching Iman run at close to full speed on the court in addition to shooting around from the three-point line. He looked great. Mike Crispino, the Knicks’ radio host, looked over at me and said, “Boy, seems like someone’s ready to come back pretty soon,” because of how good his shot looked. Of course none of those warmups involved him taking any contact, but I’d assume that he can play again within a week or so."

So Cavs fans were excited to get him back soon and allow Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov have time together to gel with the rest of the Cavs. That, along with the return of LeBron James, was suppose to give the Cavs plenty of time to gel together even before the All Star break.

Instead Cavs GM David Griffin reported today, during halftime of the Cavs game with the Houston Rockets, that Shumpert will miss another 2 to 3 weeks:

Wow! A very different time frame then many were hoping for. That will leave the Cavs to continue to decide between less than stellar options of Matthew Dellavedova, Mike Miller or J.R. Smith. Delly is the Cavs only backup point guard, the team cut A.J. Price today, Miller is an older veteran who struggles mightily on defense and Smith is the guy they want to embrace the 6th man role.

Shumpert was expected to stabilize the rotation and that position in particular. Shumpert is a good defender, with size, length and speed who can hit some shots. Inserting him into the starting lineup would allow the Cavs to run Delly in to provide defense at the point, Miller to shoot and Smith to be the fireplug off the bench.

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Two to three weeks means he will return most likely in February. The Cavs will still have 33 games left starting Feb. 1st but the more time it takes for Shumpert to return, the longer it will take the team to gel.

Concerns already exist that David Blatt has struggled to figure out his rotations this season. The Cavs have now traded one player, Dion Waiters, that was getting minutes for three players that should get minutes, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. Blatt will have to figure out when people will get their minutes and help them feel comfortable for how and when they will get those minutes.

Iman Shumpert could be a perfect fit, a Griffin keyword, with the Cavs Big 3 but we will have to wait at least two weeks to see it on the court.

What do you think about Iman Shumpert’s delayed start with the Cavs?

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