The Cleveland Cavaliers have plenty to work on in the new year, and we’ll see if they can tangibly progress in their rebuild.
At this point, you get it. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not going to be players in the Eastern Conference for a while. In the next few seasons, it’s about asset-accumulation (as many in the local and national media, along with us here at KJG have hit on countless times) and continued player development.
Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Larry Nance Jr. (and probably Ante Zizic) are the first names that come to mind in relation to that player development. The first two have had up-and-down seasons, but have provided plenty of evidence as to why they could both be key franchise pieces in the coming years.
Nance has been solid all year, and really outstanding in the recent absence of Tristan Thompson, who has missed the last two-plus weeks with a reported foot sprain. In the next few months, look for Nance’s role with Cleveland to continue to grow as a second unit playmaker and key rebounder.
With him reportedly signing a four-year contract extension right before the regular season started, him showing he’s expanding his offensive game (such as shooting a career-high 36.1 percent from three-point range) is huge.
With Nance on the floor this season mostly without Kevin Love (who’s only been active in four games due to a reported toe injury), his improved perimeter shooting has been a welcome addition to the Cavs’ offense.
Love reportedly should be back in mid-January, and could be back in Cleveland’s upcoming Western Conference road trip (per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon) which could tangibly help Cleveland’s young pieces.
Several of you have asked. Kevin Love is still out until mid-January, at least. He’s thinking maybe, possibly, kinda the middle of their six-game WC trip, but as of now he’s not even cleared for on-court work, and won’t be until after the new year
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) December 30, 2018
For the first potential New Year’s resolution of 2019 for the Cavs, they have to ease Love back.