CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 7: Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 7, 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

Iman Shumpert Injury: Updates on Cavaliers Guard's Quad and Return

Joseph ZuckerApr 10, 2015

Iman Shumpert already dodged a bullet with his ankle injury earlier in the year. The Cleveland Cavaliers will hope that the 24-year-old shooting guard is able to bounce back quickly again from a right quad contusion.

Continue for updates.

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Shumpert Out vs. Celtics

Friday, April 10

According to Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group, Shumpert won't play Friday night due to a right quad contusion.

Ever since arriving from the New York Knicks, Shumpert has become one of the Cavaliers' best defensive players, per Basketball-Reference.com. His ability to defend on the perimeter was something sorely lacking on the team before the series of trades that saw Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov move to the Cavs.

LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are far and away the most important players on the team, but the depth that guys such as Shumpert provide helps take this team from a good squad in the weak Eastern Conference to a serious NBA title contender.

The Cavaliers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the East. The Atlanta Hawks have already clinched the top spot, while the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls are too far back to overtake Cleveland.

Shumpert's injury won't hurt the Cavs in that regard, but if his injury carries over into the postseason, it could be a problem for the team.