New Cavaliers reserve guard Lonzo Ball technically hasn’t played in back-to-back games since 2020/21 with Chicago. The 6’6″ pro missed two-and-a-half seasons recovering from three knee surgeries, and when he did return last year he was held out of at least one game in a back-to-back slate.
Per Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link), Ball suggested during his media day availability that he may be able to suit up for both bouts in back-to-back sets at some point this year, his first with Cleveland. Ball cautioned, however, that he has not discussed that possibility with the Cavaliers’ medical staff yet.
Cleveland followed up a 64-18 run in 2024/25 with a disappointing second-round playoff ouster last spring, felled in part by health issues. Backcourt depth was clearly an area of need in the offseason, and so this summer the Cavaliers swapped out former lottery disappointment Isaac Okoro to the Bulls in exchange for Ball, who when healthy is a versatile 3-and-D guard still capable of ballhandling and guarding along the perimeter at high levels.
There’s more out of Cleveland:
Cavaliers starting wing Max Strus has provided an update on his recovery from an offseason Jones fracture, Bontemps writes. Strus indicated that he is five weeks removed from his surgery, and is now able to walk without a boot. He remains several months away from returning to the hardwood. “I’m in a good spot right now,” Strus said, “and everything seems to be healing.” Per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the veteran sharpshooter refused to establish an exact timeline for his comeback. “I’m not going to put a timetable on my return,” Strus said, revealing that he has a six-week check-up at some point next week. “Hopefully start the recovery and get-back process from there. I’m in a good spot right now. Everything seems to be healing.”
All-Star Cavaliers guard Darius Garland had been struggling with a turf toe ailment throughout Cleveland’s playoff run last year. He has resumed his workouts, but is unsure of when exactly he’ll get the green light to play, per Bontemps. “Everything is good,” Garland said on Monday. “Summer went really well. Rehab has been going really well. I’m back on the court, moving around, I’m ramping up for the season. So everything’s been good. It’s been a really good offseason. Everything’s been looking great, the doctors have been saying everything’s been looking great, so I’m happy where I’m at right now.” Garland also hinted that he does have a target return date, albeit not one he would divulge, Fedor adds. “I don’t have a date yet — that I’m going to tell y’all,” Garland said. “But I do have a date in mind.”
After ending the 2024/25 season as a reserve for the Cavaliers, forward De’Andre Hunter is gearing up for a starting role to tip off this season, Fedor tweets. “I feel like that’s a role I will probably have,” Hunter said. Strus had been starting. Depending on how Hunter performs, one wonders if Strus will be slotted back into that role when he’s healthy.