Since Tyronn Lue took over the Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching job the team has gone 3-1 against some pretty weak competition. Lue hasn't changed much in the way of rotations since taking over but one player whose role has been somewhat reduced is Richard Jefferson. Jefferson was a DNP- coaches decision in both of Lue's first two games but it may not be because he is out of the rotation. Jefferson is dealing with a toe injury and the Cavaliers are considering shutting him down for about a week, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Jefferson's role on the team isn't huge, as he is averaging 19.4 minutes per game, but he is well liked by everyone on the team and they see him as an important player. This is shown by the fact that many of Jefferson's teammates were unhappy at the fact that he did not play on Christmas against the Warriors.
Right now the 35-year-old veteran is dealing with a lingering toe issue and the Cavaliers are considering ways to help it heal. Jefferson recently switched sneakers to try and quell the issue and Lue has been having him sit out games, not because he is out of the rotation, but because he needs time off. Cleveland is considering shutting him down for about a week around the All-Star break as a way of letting him heal.
"It's been injected once and it will be injected again right before All-Star break, so it's just one of those things where it's manageable. It's affected a little bit but it's not surgery, it's not anything. It's just you're going to have to deal with it. It's a pain-tolerance situation," said Jefferson.
Jefferson was an important part of the team early in the season when he was backing up LeBron James but now managing his injury has become the most important thing. Jefferson's injury has reportedly made the Cavaliers look harder at the trade market as they try to find another "3-and-D" guy to play the same sort of role Jefferson was playing.
Jefferson insists the inury isn't anything serious and that with rest he will be fine but at his age you can never know for sure. The Cavaliers would be wise to have a contingency plan in case his toe injury continues to linger. On the season Jefferson is averaging 5.6 points per game while making 38 percent of his three point attempts in 41 games.
