Cavs target ‘after All-Star break’ for Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade’s return

Cleveland is hoping to be fully healthy after the break.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have two games before the All-Star break counting Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to head coach Kenny Atkinson, we won’t be seeing either Isaac Okoro or Dean Wade on the court before the just over week-long break. Both are, however, making good progress.

“[Okoro] had a heck of a workout today,” Atkinson said before Monday’s game. “But [he’s] still no contact. ... It’s post All-Star break for him and Dean [Wade’s return].”

The Cavs are being cautious with both Okoro and Wade. Okoro initially injured his shoulder in mid-December in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. He missed nearly three weeks before returning for five games. In those five games, Okoro wasn’t himself as he went just 3-24 from the field.

Wade was initially injured in the Jan. 24 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers where he banged knees with Tyrese Maxey.

“We could have pushed it before [the All-Star break] for both of those guys, [Okoro] and Dean,” Atkinson said. “All-Star [break] gives him another five, six days to work out, get acclimated. And hopefully post-All-Star...early post-All-Star we’re off and running again.”

The Cavs will be using the time after the break to get ready for the playoff run. Figuring out what rotations work well together with the addition of De’Andre Hunter and the subtraction of Caris LeVert and Georges Niang is something that Atkinson will need to do.

The Cavaliers will have eight days off after Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors before they return to action with a back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks starting on Thursday, Feb. 20.