Report: Kenny Atkinson will try to fit 11 players in Cavs rotation once everyone is healthy

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t quite at full strength just yet.

While wing Max Strus is finally making his season debut on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, fellow wing Isaac Okoro suffered a shoulder injury in the team’s win over the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. Cleveland announced on Thursday that he won’t be re-evaluated for about two weeks.

But the Cavaliers will theoretically have a healthy roster at some point, and when that time comes, head coach Kenny Atkinson will allegedly attempt to run an 11-man rotation.

“Sources tell cleveland.com the initial plan is for Atkinson to try to fit all 11, taking a few minutes away from multiple players rather than eliminating one altogether,” Cavaliers insider Chris Fedor wrote. “Atkinson has hinted at it over the last few days.”

The Cavs seemingly want to try to find playing time for all 11 players of these players: Strus, Okoro, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill.

However, that could prove to be a tough task, which is part of the reason why some executives reportedly think that the Cavs are in prime position to make a trade that brings in one player and sends away two prior to the February trade deadline.

Atkinson hasn’t been afraid to turn to his bench players frequently so far this season. In total, 10 players on the team are averaging 18-plus minutes of playing time per contest, and nine players are averaging more than 20 minutes per game. Those stats don’t even include Strus, who hasn’t seen the floor yet.

The advantage to the Cavaliers’ great depth is that the team hasn’t been forced to overplay its stars in order to win games. Mitchell is averaging the most playing time on the team at 31.9 minutes per game, and he, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland are the only players on the team seeing the floor for 30-plus minutes on average. Allen’s average is just under the 30-minute mark.

Cleveland’s depth was on full display in its 29-point victory over the Nets earlier in the week. Seven players in total reached double digits in scoring, and bench players Niang and LeVert combined for 36 points. They also buried eight triples between the two of them.

But again, when the Cavs are finally at full strength, Atkinson will face a challenge, even if it’s a good one to have.

For now, Cleveland is focused on Milwaukee. A win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and company would improve the Cavaliers’ record to 24-4 on the season. Cleveland already has the best record in the NBA and a two-game lead over the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings.