The Cleveland Cavaliers will deploy their new lineup on Monday night.
De’Andre Hunter is ready to make his debut with his new team, and the matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves will give him the perfect opportunity to showcase his 3-and-D skills.
Unfortunately, the Cavs still won’t be at full strength for this matchup.
As pointed out by Evan Dammarell on X, Isaac Okoro (shoulder) and Dean Wade (knee) will remain out for his matchup.
He also adds that J.T. Thor is also unavailable as he’s on a G-League assignment.
Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade remain OUT for the #Cavs against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
JT Thor is also unavailable while on assignment with the Cleveland Charge.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) February 9, 2025
Okoro and Wade, two of the team’s top defensive players, have been sidelined for quite some time, and there is still no clear timeline for their return.
Okoro was dealing with a shoulder injury before briefly returning to the court, but it seems like he rushed his way back and is now dealing with the consequences.
Wade is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, and the reports haven’t been optimistic.
He has been quite prone to injuries throughout his career, and some reports indicate that he might be out well after the All-Star break.
Even in their absence, the Cavs have held their own on the defensive end of the floor.
Needless to say, adding a long, quick, and athletic defender like Hunter to the mix should only help their case.
This team has been utterly dominant in the regular season, but they now have a bigger prize ahead of them, so they must make sure to avoid injuries in the most crucial stretch of the campaign.
NEXT: De'Andre Hunter Reveals What He's Looking To Show With Cavs
