J.R. Smith Injury Update: Cavaliers SG Out 12-14 Weeks Following Thumb Surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith is projected to miss at least three months of action after undergoing surgery Friday on his right thumb.

The Cavs provided an update on the 31-year-old veteran's status on their official website:

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Cavalier guard J.R. Smith's surgery to repair a complex fracture of his right thumb was completed on Friday morning at the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Montrose, Ohio. ... Smith will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation for his thumb and his return to play timeline is currently projected at 12-14 weeks.

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Smith, who's averaging 8.6 points per game this season, suffered the injury in Tuesday's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored six points in 17 minutes before exiting early. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today noted the injury appeared to occur on an attempted steal of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Although Cleveland lacks depth beyond its star-studded top half of the roster, it doesn't sound like the team is rushing to find a potential replacement.

On Wednesday, head coach Tyronn Lue talked to reporters about the message he gave general manager David Griffin regarding the situation.

"I told Griff to take his time," Lue said. "We are 20-6, and we're playing good. We're a good team. And we don't want to settle for just any point guard, we want to make sure that we have the right piece that we bring in here that could help us win a championship. That's our goal."

The Cavaliers added another victory over the Bucks on Wednesday night to move their record to 21-6 to lead the Eastern Conference. They hold a 1.5-game lead over the Toronto Raptors for the top seed, and they are five games clear of the third-place Boston Celtics.

While their place in the standings allows for a measured approach, there's no doubt the backcourt is getting thin.

Iman Shumpert should see the majority of the minutes at shooting guard, while Mike Dunleavy will assume a larger role in the rotation.

Meanwhile, there will be more pressure on DeAndre Liggins and Kay Felder to lead the offense when Kyrie Irving is on the bench. The Smith injury further showcases the need to get another trustworthy combo guard on the roster before the playoffs roll around.