Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert has left the Cleveland Cavaliers’ preseason game vs. the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday with a left foot injury, the team says. He will not return, but did walk off the court under his own power according to the team’s broadcast.
Shumpert appeared to hurt his foot while going up for a dunk. After the play, he took some time to get back to the other end of the court:
It’s too early now to say what Shumpert’s injury means or how long it could keep him out. He does have a fairly lengthy NBA history, including some ankle and knee issues. If he is out for a significant amount of time, it could impact who the team keeps. The Cavs have to cut down to 15 guaranteed contracts — they currently have 15 — and Shumpert’s injury could mean Richard Jefferson, who has been speculated as a possible goner, could stay on the team ahead of point guard Jose Calderon.
According to Dave McMenamin, the shooting guard needs an MRI to determine the extend of the damage. Shumpert played in 75 games for the Cavs last year, averaging 25.5 minutes per contest. He averaged 7.5 points, 1.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. He played only two minutes Wednesday before exiting the game. While he was in, he did not attempt a shot but did haul in one rebound.
