The Cleveland Cavaliers are quietly positioning themselves as darkish horse championship contenders, with the potential to be a Prime 4 staff within the Jap Convention this season. Donovan Mitchell‘s contract extension removes any offseason uncertainty, securing the All-Star guard for a minimum of the following three years. Now, the main focus shifts to new head coach Kenny Atkinson, who inherits a gifted roster returning with the identical formidable beginning 5.
After a promising run final 12 months, the Cavaliers are poised to purpose increased. Something lower than a deep playoff run might be thought-about a disappointment. Mitchell, one of many elite guards within the league, is a dynamic scorer who can create his personal shot, facilitate for his teammates, and assault the rim. His backcourt associate, Darius Garland, additionally handled accidents within the postseason, however when wholesome, the duo types some of the potent backcourts within the NBA.
The Cavs’ beginning 5 – Mitchell, Garland, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen – ranks among the many finest within the league. Whereas there could also be issues about depth, the mixture of Mobley and Allen provides Cleveland a defensive edge, particularly within the paint, the place each excel as shot-blockers, averaging 1.4 and 1.1 blocks per sport, respectively, final season. Mobley, solely 22, continues to develop right into a star, and his development might be key to Cleveland’s success this season.
Because the staff appears to keep away from the luxurious tax (after re-signing Okoro), potential roster strikes might contain slicing non-guaranteed contracts like Tristan Thompson or Sam Merrill. Nevertheless, with the identical roster largely intact, Atkinson’s teaching and Mobley’s continued growth, notably in enhancing ground spacing, would be the key elements in propelling the Cavaliers into severe championship rivalry.
Returning: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Tristan Thompson, Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill, Zhaire Smith, Craig Porter, Pete Nance, Emoni Bates.
Additions: Jaylon Tyson (California), Jacob Gilyard (Brooklyn), Zhaire Smith (Cleveland, G League), Jules Bernard (Washington), Luke Travers (Melbourne),
Departures: Damian Jones (to Zhejiang), Isaiah Mobley (to Philadelphia)
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New head coach Kenny Atkinson inherits a formidable beginning 5 that gives the Cavs with each offensive firepower and defensive energy. If the younger gamers off the bench develop correctly, together with the staff’s top-tier protection, Cleveland is positioned to be a prime staff within the league.
Depth issues and three-point capturing inconsistencies stay. Whereas they added some capturing, they’re nonetheless a league-average three-point capturing staff, with little enchancment. Their lack of depth may additionally lead to a reliance on younger expertise for important contributions.
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HoopsHype: 2nd within the Central Division, fifth within the Jap Convention
ESPN: 1st within the Central Division, 2nd within the Jap Convention
Sportsbooks: 48.5 projected wins
HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, together with FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365.
