Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers' starting center and part of one of the league's top defensive frontlines, will be out for a few weeks with a bone bruise in his ankle, the team revealed.
Allen is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks, but he could be gone for much longer. Cleveland opens the season in Brooklyn in 17 days (Oct. 25). Cavaliers coach
J.B. Bickerstaff was asked if Allen will be available for the season opening, and his response was obtained by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
"I can't give you an honest answer on that because it's a bone and everybody is different as far as how long those things take," Bickerstaff said after Saturday's practice.
"You can't have control over everyone's bone. But we wanted to do it now because it seemed like the perfect moment. Give him as much time
as he needs to rest and evaluate how it heals, then do everything we can to help him recover quickly and move on."
The Cavaliers won 51 games last season and appear to be a squad primed to build on that and their first-round playoff defeat. Allen, 25, is an important member of the club, averaging 14.3 points,
9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game last season while also serving as a crucial defensive anchor (allowing Evan Mobley to play more of a roaming, shot-blocking role).
With Allen out, the Cavaliers will most likely start Damian Jones at five, with Tristan Thompson as his backup, though Mobley will likely shift to center as well