Cleveland Cavaliers get update on De'Andre Hunter injury in preseason finale

It seems as though his injury isn't expected to be long term, but the Cavaliers don't have much time between now and the start of the regular season.

They kick off the 2025-26 campaign on the road in New York against the Knicks, with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The Knicks and Cavaliers are expected to be top teams in the conference this season.

Outside of Hunter being banged up, Cleveland will be down both guards Darius Garland and Max Strus. The two suffered long-term injuries at the end of last year, needing a good chunk of time to rehabilitate and return to the court.

Fortunately, the team made moves this offseason to bring in two guards, Lonzo Ball and Tyrese Proctor, who can step up in the lineup for the time being. Both will help fill the void of Garland until he returns, with guard Craig Porter Jr. also more than likely filling time in the rotation as well.

With the injury to Strus, the expectation is for Hunter to take his spot in the starting lineup. The hope now is that this knee-banging incident doesn't produce any long-term effects.

Hunter joined the Cavaliers from Eastern Conference opponent, the Atlanta Hawks, last season. They acquired the versatile forward in exchange for Georges Niang, Caris LeVert and a barrage of picks. The deal came just before the trade deadline was set to hit, marking a turning point in Cleveland's mindset.

In his limited action with the Cavaliers, he played in 27 games, starting in five. He contributed 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while also knocked down 48.5% from the field and 42.6% from deep.

It's obvious that Hunter makes a drastic impact for the team on both sides of the court, meaning his health is very important to the team's schematics, especially at the start of the regular season.