Cleveland Cavaliers Face Injury Challenges
The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves entering a challenging period as they face injuries to key players. Evan Mobley, dealing with a calf strain, is set to be sidelined for one to three weeks, and both Darius Garland (toe injury) and Max Strus (foot injury) remain unavailable. The road ahead is particularly demanding, with seven games scheduled prior to the All-Star break on February 5. Amid these difficulties, the Cavaliers have limited active roster depth and may be exploring ways to bolster their lineup.
Strategic Roster Changes
In a strategic move, the Cavaliers have decided to release Chris Livingston, a two-way forward. According to league insider Michael Scotto, this decision comes after Livingston failed to make a significant impact during his time with the team, totaling only 17 minutes across three appearances this season, despite the team’s injury woes. The 21-year-old player from Akron has primarily been honing his skills with the Cleveland Charge in the G League, where he has been performing well, averaging 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists over 16 games, shooting .437 from the field.
Waiving Livingston opens one of the Cavs’ three two-way contract slots, which could be critical as the team may soon convert Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s current two-way deal into a standard NBA contract, further changing the roster dynamics. Luke Travers, the only other player currently on a two-way contract with the Cavaliers, has had a limited role as well, featuring in just 12 NBA games this season while averaging 18.1 points and nearly nine rebounds across 14 G-League games.
Looking Ahead
With the team looking for fresh talent to fill the gap left by Livingston’s release, they may also consider internal options such as Darius Brown and Tristan Enaruna. However, notable player Killian Hayes remains ineligible for a two-way contract due to prior service time in the league. As the Cavaliers navigate this rough patch, all eyes will be on their roster adjustments and strategies to maintain competitive performance.
