The Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the NBA Finals last year after a season of optimism. The Cavs made it even though Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love missed most or all of the Finals. When the season started, the Cavs were seen as loaded with Irving and Love being joined by LeBron James as the league’s new Big 3.
Yet the season started off with the team struggling and LeBron taking a 2 week vacation in the middle of the season. The Cavs offense couldn’t find a way to click while defensively they looked like 5 players with no clue where they should be and with no rim protection.
Two trades, that technically were combined as one, and LeBron’s return to health, lit the Cavs fuse and the explosions happened game after game. An offensive juggernaut that overwhelmed teams and unloaded their fireworks night after night. That combined with a defensive system with 5 players on a string and good rim protection.
With Love and Irving out with injuries, the Cavs became defensively elite for more than a few games. Matthew Dellavedova, Tristan Thompson, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and James made for an amazing unit, shutting down teams with great offensive prowess. That starting lineup is unlikely to start a single game next year, instead Love and Irving will take their places for a more balanced lineup.
This off-season, the Cavs have been celebrated for bringing back their core. Love, Shumpert, Delly and James Jones are back and Tristan Thompson is likely to return (with a very big contract). They have also added Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson as well as Anderson Varejao, though expectations for the Wild Thing should be very limited after his Achilles injury.
Obviously the team that should take the court on Opening Night will be better than the one that left The Q after losing Game 6 of the NBA Finals to the champion Golden State Warriors. The question is this: Is the current Cavs roster better than the best 2015 Cavs roster?
Irving, Shumpert, LeBron, Love and Mozgov will likely start with fellow returners Delly, Thompson, Jones and Joe Harris coming off the bench. That means to answer the question we need to look at the departures and arrivals.
Depatures
J.R. Smith (Could re-sign but currently a free agent.)
Shawn Marion
Mike Miller
Kendrick Perkins
Brendan Haywood
Arrivals
Anderson Varejao
Mo Williams
Richard Jefferson
Sir’Dominic Pointer
Results
Even with his limitations coming off another injury, even one that has ended productivity for many NBA players, Varejao should be able to outproduce the combination of Perkins and Haywood. The Cavs need for a backup big is important but Mozgov, Thompson and Love are bound to take most of the minutes with Jones coming in as a small ball Stretch 4 as well. Even so, limited minutes for Varejao will give the Cavs deep production.
The return of Mo Gotti may be seen as able to replace most of what JR provided the Cavs. Yet Williams is smaller and a far worse defender. While both are good 3 point shooters and capable of getting hot, Smith’s ability to take over games is a different level than Mo’s.
Jefferson is this year’s Marion. Remember when the Cavs signed ‘Trix? We all thought he was the perfect backup for LeBron after a very good season with the Dallas Mavericks the year prior. Jefferson, coming off of a good season with the Mavs, is exciting for similar reasons. If he can replicate last year, Jefferson will be a huge addition but the memory of Marion’s season last year has us holding our breath. Could the Cavs be without a primary backup for LeBron for another season?
Finally, Miller was brought in as LeBron’s friend who would provide shooting and veteran leadership. From all reports, he did provide leadership and was a great cheerleader last season. Unfortunately, his on the court production was minimal. Pointer isn’t certain to even make the Cavs roster but his athleticism, defense and effort could be useful for an older Cavs bench. With Mo and Jefferson adding some veteran leadership, Miller won’t be missed. Pointer provides something unique for the Cavs.
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The Cavs have upgraded with Varejao and Pointer while JR to Mo is a slight downgrade. While we hope Jefferson is better than Marion, we can’t get anyone’s hopes up. If JR returns, these results change quite significantly. The Cavs also have another year of development for young players Irving, Love, Shumpert, Harris and Thompson.
The Cavs still can add a minimum level player in 1 or 2 spots or even better use the Haywood and Miller Traded Player Exceptions to add talent. Yet even without doing that, the Cavs are already better than the best version of their team last year. That should excite Cavs fans.
Whether they are better than the Western Conference, including the Warriors, is another question. For now we feel good about where the Cavs stand going into the season compared to the best version of the team last year.