Iman Shumpert was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of DUI and reportedly cited for marijuana possession.
Terry Pluto of The Cleveland Plain Dealer on the Cavaliers:
That sounded ominous, but it was also possible Pluto – speaking in a video – didn’t intend to give that impression. Well…
Pluto:There is a lot of drama and gossip about Iman Shumpert and actress/singer Teyana Taylor. I’m not getting into all that, you can search it on the web if you care about the details.
The Cavaliers guard also was arrested for a DUI for being high on marijuana in August.
Are there reasons for concern about Shumpert? I briefly discussed that in a video earlier in the week. I’ve since done more checking, and there are indeed some issues.Now, I’m fairly certain Pluto is trying to relay there’s something going on here, or at least that the Cavs are worried something is going on here. What that is, I’m not sure. Pluto never overtly says, but he hits on three themes:
- Shumpert signed a four-year, $40 million contract then had an down season.
- He arrived at training camp with a broken wrist from a pickup game.
- The Cavs want Shumpert to focus on shooting 3s and defending, not taking a larger offensive role.
If Shumpert just had a down year, maybe due to multiple injuries, fine. That happens to players, and it’s not always cause for greater concern. But the insinuation here seems to be that the Cavs are worried what caused Shumpert’s injuries and/or his diminished production.
Cleveland reportedly shopped Shumpert before the trade deadline. I wonder how actively they’ll pursue a deal this year.