We have not seen Matthew Dellavedova yet in regular season game action for the Cleveland Cavaliers yet this season. Dellavedova suffered a severe concussion in Cleveland’s first preseason game on Dec. 12 versus the Indiana Pacers, and it’s taken a long time to Dellavedova to work his way back.
It was previously reported back in early February by The Athletic‘s Kelsey Russo and Joe Vardon (subscription required) that Dellavedova could end up having to retire, even. That was due to him not having been able to ramp up his workouts to seemingly get back into game shape because of symptoms, and Dellavedova has previously suffered concussions in his career.
Delly refuted the potential for him to be considering retirement soon after that, though, albeit he ended up having to have an emergency appendectomy last month. He was working his way back prior to that, but it was another tough ailment for him, even while that wasn’t necessarily the only thing holding him back clearly. And he seemingly wasn’t fully back, anyway.
On the plus side, it appears that the veteran point guard is on track to return soon for the Cavaliers.
Dellavedova seems likely set to return next week for the Cavs, per a recent report, which would be a playmaking lift.
According to a report from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Dellavedova was due to participate in team practice run on Saturday, and could be set to make his 2020-21 regular season debut during Cleveland’s next four-game road trip.
"“Dellavedova is getting closer. Sources tell cleveland.com Dellavedova will practice Saturday and there’s belief the veteran, who has yet to play this season, should be able to make his debut during the team’s upcoming four-game road trip that begins Wednesday night in Chicago — ironically the place where Cleveland’s 2019-20 season ended abruptly, the last regular season game Dellavedova played.”"
Fedor added that Dellavedova has been working his way back individually. Plus, Fedor reported how the veteran reserve point guard was able to get in a pregame workout on Friday with Taurean Prince, too, whose been recently sidelined, and that that marked the “first time Dellavedova has been able to work like that before a game.”
We’ll of course have to see if Dellavedova will end up being back, and be able to go in rotational burn to spell Darius Garland. Delly, if he’s able to go, could help provide an added playmaking lift potentially in spurts, even while his shot was the furthest thing from stellar last season.
He only had 3.1 points per outing last season, and had by far a career-low 41.4 percent effective field goal shooting clip, but is such a heady passer that could help guys such as Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr. and/or Jarrett Allen/Dylan Windler in spurts.
Dellavedova, while his role was inconsistent, still had a near-career-best 7.9 assists per-36 minutes in 2019-20, so he could still seemingly help the Cleveland Cavaliers in a few spurts per game, in the 11-14 minute range potentially.
We’ll have to see if the Cavs will end up bringing Quinn Cook on a second 10-day here soon, which we should find out here, anyhow. That could play into the approach with Delly on the upcoming road trip, one would think, and Cook has done decently in his current 10-day stint, for what it’s worth.
Albeit with the trade deadline set to come on March 25, on Thursday of next week, perhaps from a roster numbers/potential trade standpoint, and also with this news regarding Dellavedova, Cook won’t be signed again via second 10-day. We’ll find out soon, though.
It’s great to know that Delly seems likely to return soon/at least be available for spurts it appears for the Wine and Gold during this upcoming road trip, in any case. That could really help ease the primary playmaking burden on Garland.