Newest Cavalier Dwyane Wade will open the 2017/18 season in the team’s starting lineup, head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed today. As Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com details, J.R. Smith will come off the bench with Wade taking over as the starting shooting guard, and Lue said today that Smith handled the news well.
“He was fine,” Lue said. “It’s tough, you’ve been in position where you went to three straight Finals and you’ve been the starting two guard. But like I said, it’s about sacrifice if you want to win. J.R. was great about it. Just knows he has to have a different role right now so we’ll see how it works.”
Although Derrick Rose will join Wade in the starting lineup, Lue said today that Rose will head to the bench early in games and then return to run the second-team offense. In that scenario, the former MVP would likely lead a lineup that features Smith, Kyle Korver, and Jeff Green, though we’ll see what adjustments the team makes when the season officially gets underway.
Here’s more on the Cavs:
- One player who likely won’t see many minutes in the Cavs’ rotation – barring injuries – is Channing Frye, Vardon writes in a separate piece. Lue told Frye that he probably won’t play a whole lot this season, and the head coach said the veteran forward responded admirably. “That’s the type of vet you want around,” Lue said. “Unbelievable character guy. He understands it’s a long season. There’s going to be opportunities.”
- Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net hears that the Cavs already know which player with a guaranteed salary they’ll waive, assuming they can’t trade anyone. The Cavs haven’t identified that player, of course, but Richard Jefferson has been the candidate mentioned most frequently. Cleveland’s initial cuts may begin on Tuesday, Amico adds.
- According to Amico, the Cavaliers continue to explore possible trades involving Iman Shumpert, but they’ve had trouble finding a taker all offseason, and Shumpert’s foot injury isn’t helping matters.
- We rounded up a few Cavs notes on Sunday as well, including news on Isaiah Thomas‘ change in representation.
I’d think the pelicans would be drooling over a package with shump and rj. Even if a luxury tax is there it could be difference between making a nice playoff run or potentially blowing it up at the deadline
Take a ajina length, stick him at the end of the bench and let shump and rj get some
Minutes and have some fun
Ajinca*
Is JR competing for sixth man of the year too?
Or move them to the suns for Tyson or Alex Len
So who is the other first-string PG for the Cavs if D-Rose is “heading to the bench early?”
It sounds like Wade and LeBron could share the ball-handling duties for those few minutes.
They have Calderon, don’t they?
Warriors will sweep da cavs HaHa! Leold James no chance!
Does this team come equipped with wheel chairs instead of regular chairs, on the bench?
Honestly, Wade is an old beat-up shell of himself. Rose will be injured in a month, and everyone else is geriatric (for NBA standards).