The Cleveland Cavaliers need to take a page out of the Cleveland Browns’ playbook. Yes, you heard that correctly.
It is the year 2018 and somehow, the Cleveland Browns can be used as a positive example for something. It just so happens the advice should be borrowed by the city’s basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers landed their first top-ten pick since 2014 when the team snatched up Andrew Wiggins with the top selection. With LeBron James in town for the last four seasons, it was apparent that draft studies weren’t the main priority for the organization. But after competing at such a high level for such a long stretch, Cleveland is now stuck at 1-11 and looking up at everyone in the standings.
It’s frustrated everyone, from owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Koby Altman to the veterans on the roster assembled. No one has any idea what the team’s plan is going forward, whether it’ll be to start a full-fledged rebuild or to keep chugging along in hopes of grabbing an extra win or two.
But in all reality, they need to think about their future. More importantly, they need to protect their future.
Collin Sexton is that said future and right now, it’d be fair to raise some concern about his development. While he’s only twelve games into his NBA career, critics have not held back to critique his every move. Some have even started the bust talk, which is absolutely absurd.
For now, it holds some merit. But not necessarily because of Sexton’s actual play, rather this situation he’s been dealt.
Sexton was the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Alabama. He was highly-touted as a scorer with an intensity on the defensive side that rivaled other youngsters in the league. That didn’t just disappear completely from Sexton and to think he’s the issue here is once again ludicrous.
How can a nineteen-year-old grow in a professional setting if there’s a lack of professionalism in his own locker room?
Last week, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reported that the Cavalier veterans believe Sexton does not “know how to play”. No matter how many losses the team strings together, these types of quotes cannot slip out of the locker room. How can the Cavs expect him to progress consistently and confidently if his own teammates are writing him off?
So, yes, the Cavs need to follow the Browns’ lead.
When Baker Mayfield was selected with the first overall selection in this past April’s 2018 NFL Draft, the Browns handed the keys to the Oklahoma quarterback to become the face of the franchise. And believe it or not, they’re getting it right.
The Browns didn’t immediately start Mayfield but made sure to highlight his strides as a rookie and give him chances to shine as well as face adversity. They worked hand-in-hand with him at the beginning of the year to make sure he was always ready. He was, and it showed.
Mayfield led the Browns to their first victory of the season on Thursday Night Football over the Jets. He brought a new hope to the team and the city that hadn’t been seen for decades. Browns general manager John Dorsey knew what he had with his gunslinging quarterback.
And Dorsey refused to let any turmoil or lack of professionalism get in the way of what he’s building in Cleveland. Not only did he fire Hue Jackson, the lackluster head coach that compiled a 3-36-1 record over two and a half seasons. He also dismissed newly-hired offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Why? Because the two were reportedly butting heads at every twist and turn, having a huge effect on the offense’s success. It was a directly affecting Mayfield and it was clear a change was needed.
The Browns wouldn’t let any drama or anyone’s own agenda dictate their franchise’s future. Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were expendable the moment they got in the way of Mayfield’s, along with the other young players’, development.
If the Cleveland Browns can understand this logic, surely the Cleveland Cavaliers do as well.
They have to dispose of the extra noise. Whoever is behind such comments displayed in articles like Vardon’s has to go. Anyone who is disrupting the youth movement has to go. Quite frankly, if you’re bad for the culture, you have nothing to provide for the organization.
It’s harsh but it’s straight to the point. There’s no time for feelings in this process. If the Cavs elect to take everyone’s emotions into consideration instead of making correct business decisions, they’ll set themselves so much farther back.
The Browns didn’t worry about it and it’s helping the franchise move forward. It’s time for another team in the city to follow their lead.
The future’s waiting. It starts with Sexton and continues with the next few drafts and offseasons. But the Cleveland Cavaliers can’t delay it any longer or they’ll end up like the Orlando Magic, lost with no direction.