With the injuries continuing to pile up, the Cavaliers are expected to apply to the NBA for a hardship exception this weekend, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been forced to use seven different starting lineups in first eight games.
A hardship exception is unlike a disabled player exception in that it does not offer salary-cap flexibility and can only be used to replace a player who suffers a season-ending injury.
Instead, a hardship exception gives teams the ability to add an extra roster spot on a short-term basis. The league considers hardship exceptions on a case-by-case basis — and an exception can be granted if a team has at least four players who have missed three games or more due to injury or illness and are expected to remain out for at least two weeks.
The Cavs have at least two of those players in power forward Kevin Love and Dante Exum, both out with calf strains. Also, veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova hasn’t played all year with what apparently is a fairly severe concussion.
Along with that, second-year forward/guard Dylan Windler is out with a broken hand and point guard Darius Garland has missed the last two games with an injured shoulder — though so far Garland is considered day-to-day.
Shooting guard Kevin Porter Jr. has not played in any preseason or regular-season games, but the Cavs have listed him out for “personal reasons.” That would not qualify as a reason for the league to consider a hardship exception.
The Cavs (4-4) visit the Grizzlies at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday.
