Cavs could get Dean Wade back in NBA Cup Finals against Wizards

After defeating the Boston Celtics at home, the still injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers are on a roll and hoping they can keep their momentum going as they welcome Bilal Coulibaly and the Washington Wizards. As mentioned, the Cavs defeated the Celtics 115-111 last time out. The Wizards, meanwhile, are on a fourteen-game losing streak, with Washington’s last win coming against the Atlanta Hawks over a month ago.

This will be the second of three meetings between the Cavs and Wizards this year. Both teams met for the first time in Washington, with the Cavs winning 135-116. Cleveland was led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, both of whom bombarded from the defensive line against Washington.

This matchup between the Cavs and Wizards will carry the most weight. It is the last game for both sides in the group stage during the NBA Cup. While Cleveland and Washington did not arrive in Las Vegas for the tournament portion of the NBA Cup, the standings and point distribution still need to be clarified.

If the Cavs lose to the Wizards, it could dramatically upset the NBA Cup standings. Additionally, Washington is in a significant losing streak, and Cleveland doesn’t want to be the victim of that ending. Unfortunately, both teams are dealing with numerous injuries heading into this clash, making it a challenge for both sides.

Who won’t be available for the Wizards against Cleveland?

Against the Cavs, Washington will be without Saddiq Bey (ACL), Kyle Kuzma (ribs) and Tristan Vukcevic (knee).

Bey, 25, suffered a torn ACL in March, raising doubts about his return plan. However, teammate Malcolm Brogdon told reporters that Bey is healing quickly.

“We definitely developed a bond, a strong relationship,” Brogdon said. “He’s working, man. He’s actually making rapid progress, so we have to slow him down because he’s doing really well.”

If a torn ACL takes 9 to 12 months to heal, his earliest possible return would likely be mid-December.

Meanwhile, Kuzma was sidelined after suffering a rib injury against the Los Angeles Clippers. Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said Kuzma is expected to miss this game against the Cavs.

The same goes for Vukcevic. The Serbian striker has not yet made his season debut and has no timetable for his return. Unless he returns to training, Vukcevic may be considered questionable for future competitions.

Who won’t be available for the Cavs against Washington?

Like the Wizards, the Cavs will be without several key contributors. Max Strus (ankle) is still out. The game between Cleveland and Washington will be the 22nd straight regular season game without Strus. The Cavs sharpshooter sprained his right ankle during individual workouts.

After the severity of the sprain was confirmed, it was announced that Strus would be re-evaluated after six weeks of treatment and rehabilitation. An update on the next steps in Strus’ recovery is expected to come soon. However, head coach Kenny Atkinson said Strus is far from returning to the floor. So for now, expect Strus to be sidelined for most of December.

Dean Wade could return from injury for the Cavs against Washington

One possible bright spot for the Cavs is that sharpshooting big man Dean Wade (ankle) is listed as questionable and could return against the Wizards.

Cleveland greatly missed Wade’s versatility in both directions. At 6-foot-3, he has the size and athleticism to guard multiple positions. His strong perimeter defense and three-point shooting make him an effective floor defender.

Wade wanted to play in Cleveland’s most recent game against Boston and tried to show he was ready to return. However, clearance from the Cavs’ medical staff is still required and his return will depend on how he and his ankle are doing.

Wade will be joined by backup Ty Jerome (illness), who is questionable and likely a game-time decision. If Jerome is out against Washington, super sixth man Caris LeVert could still see some minutes with the second unit for Cleveland.