Cavs Report: No decision on starting small forward

Published Oct. 28, 2013 10:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

A quick look at some Cavaliers happenings with the regular-season less than 48 hours away:

• Coach Mike Brown said he has not yet decided who will start at small forward. The options are Earl Clark, Alonzo Gee and C.J. Miles. Clark may have the inside track, as he’s run with the first team the past two practices.

• The rest of the starting lineup is no surprise (so far): Center Anderson Varejao, power forward Tristan Thompson, shooting guard Dion Waiters and point guard Kyrie Irving.

• New center Andrew Bynum has taken part in five-on-five drills for a week, Brown said. The drills are of the full-contact variety. Bynum could potentially play in Wednesday’s opener vs. Brooklyn if given clearance by team doctors.

• League sources told FOX Sports Ohio the 7-foot Bynum has constant swelling in his knees, but it’s not something that would prevent him from playing and playing well. It’s just something he’ll have to live with, sources say.

• NBA teams had to turn in rosters to the league office Monday by 5 p.m. Bynum and rookie swingman Carrick Felix (hernia) were listed as inactive for the opener. But that means little. Either could be activated prior to Wednesday’s tip-off.

• Kyrie Irving said the Cavs have a new identity under Brown, and expects that things will be better this season. “(I want) a lot of wins, a lot of consistency (and) a lot of selfless acts for myself in order to make this team great,” Irving said. “Great players on great teams, in order to be the best, I have to win with my team. I’ve put a lot of hard work in this offseason with my teammates, and I feel we have the pieces to do something special this year.”

• Backup center Tyler Zeller has been taking part in full practices. He has not officially been cleared following a recent appendectomy, but odds seem to favor him being activated -- if not by Wednesday, then by weekend road games at Charlotte and Indiana.

• Rookie guard Sergey Karasev (ankle) participated in at least parts of practice Sunday and Monday. His status has not been updated. But minutes will likely to be hard to come by for Karasev, at least early in his career, even when healthy.

• Nets backup forward Andrei Kirilenko appears unlikely to play vs. the Cavs. Kirilenko missed the final five preseason games with back spasms.

• Meanwhile, first-year Nets coach Jason Kidd will sit out following a two-game suspension after pleading guilty in July to driving while impaired. Kidd said he will travel with the team to Cleveland and watch the game on television with a friend. Lawrence Frank will coach the Nets in Kidd’s place.