The Cavaliers will be without 25-year old center Semih Erden for the next three weeks due to a thumb injury.  Erden played in 4 games (1 start) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 16.0 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Erden played in 41 games (8 starts) as a rookie for the Cavaliers & Celtics last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  The Cavaliers are anxious to see when Erden can go this year, but they are going to take their time and let him heal.  Anderson Varejao and Ryan Hollins will handle center until Erden is ready to return to action.

The Cavaliers with be without 22-year old shooting guard Manny Harris for the next two weeks due to a foot ulcer.  Harris played in 54 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He only shot 37.4% from the floor as a rookie last year.  Harris was a undrafted rookie last year, so he has done a solid job of getting to his second NBA season.  The Cavs should be o.k, until Harris is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Cavaliers have waived Manny Harris.

The Cavaliers will be without 32-year old point guard Baron Davis indefinitely due to a herniated disc in his back.  Davis played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He played in 58 games (44 starts) overall for the Clippers & Cavs last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Lucky for the Cavs, they still have Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson to handle the point until Davis is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  The Cavaliers have waived Baron Davis via the amnesty clause.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without 34-year old power forward Antawn Jamison for the next 5-7 weeks as he will need surgery to repair a broken pinkie finger on his left hand.  Jamison has played in 56 games (38 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he was averaging 32.9 minutes, 18.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  Jamison was the Cavs’ leading scorer so they are going to really miss him.  22-year old Samardo Samuels and 23-year old Luke Harangody are going to get their big chances to show what they can or can’t do in the NBA.  Samuels will initially replace Jamison in the starting lineup.  He has played in 23 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 14.4 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  Luke Harangody just came over in a deal at the trade deadline with the Celtics.  He has played in 28 games (0 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 8.6 minutes, 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  This is just another blow for the Cavs during this brutal season.

28-year old starting point guard Mo Williams has been out a little over a month due to a hip problem but he’s getting ready to return to action.  Williams has played in 33 games (32 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 30.4 minutes, 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.  Williams’ shooting has been way off so far this year as he is only hitting 38.7% from three point range and 26.6% from behind the three point line.  The Cavaliers are glad to get Williams back as they want to showcase him for a deal before the trade deadline.  Part of the reason the Cavs don’t mind moving Williams is due to the recent play of 24-year old Ramon Sessions.  In his last three games, Sessions is averaging 38.3 minutes, 20.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game on 61.8% shooting from the floor.  Sessions has played in 50 games (18 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 25.0 minutes, 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without 28-year old point guard Mo Williams indefinitely due to a hip problem.  Williams has played in 33 games (32 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 30.4 minutes, 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 7.1  assists per game.  His hip is probably one of the reasons that his shooting is way off so far this year.  Williams is only hitting 38.7% of his shots from the floor and 26.6% of his shots from three point range.  The Cavaliers should let Williams take his time getting healthy because he didn’t help the team much by playing hurt.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Cavs….they have.  28-year old starting center Anderson Varejao is out for the season as he will need surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right foot!  He was injured in practice last Thursday while doing a running drill.  Varejao played in 31 games  (all starts) for the Cavs this year and he averaged 32.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  Varejao has now played in 419 games (103 starts) in his first seven years with the Cavs and he is averaging 24.7 minutes, 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Varejao is #9 in Cavs’ history in rebounds (2,896) and he’s #10 in blocked shots with 306.  The good news for Cavaliers’ fans is that they won’t trade Varejao now as many teams were trying to get their hands on him.  The bad news is that the Cavs are going to be a lot more horrible without Varejao in the middle and that’s scary as they are 8-28 right now!

Starting center Anderson Varejao had just returned with a mask to protect his fractured cheek and he strained an ankle which will cause him to miss at least the next four games.  Varejao has played in 31 games (all starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 32.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  Varejao is the one player the Cavs can’t really replace so they hope he’s only out the next four games.

Veteran power forward/center Leon Powe is going to miss at least the next five games for the Cavaliers with a right knee contusion.  Powe has played in 14 games (3 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 13.4 minutes, 5.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 34 games (5 starts) in his first two years with the Cavs and he is averaging 12.4 minutes, 4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  Powe has not proved to be too dependable for the Cavs as he is very injury prone.

UPDATE:  (1/8/2011) – Leon Powe has underwent surgery on his right knee which will keep him out indefinitely.  He is expected to miss at the very least, the next six weeks.

The Cavaliers will be without 24-year old shooting guard Daniel Gibson for at least the next five games due to a sprained ankle.  Gibson has played in 32 games (11 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 29.3 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.  The Cavs are really going to miss Gibson’s shooting stroke as he is hitting 44% of his shots from three point range so far this year.  This is just another bad break for the woeful Cavaliers.