It’s not going to be a fun next couple of weeks for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who embark on a tough Western Conference road trip. After a visit to the “Big Easy” that saw the Wine and Gold surrender 140 points, it’s fair to say this next stretch of games will play a hand in determining the future of the roster.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tough time on Wednesday night with Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. After a strong start to the contest from the Cavaliers, New Orleans posted three strong frames on their way to a 16-point victory. Davis led the charge with 38 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks, per ESPN.
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Cleveland’s road doesn’t get easier. Friday night will see them take on MVP candidate James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Sunday welcomes them into the Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Lakers. No, LeBron James, won’t be playing, as he’ll reportedly be out due to a strained left groin, the team announced (h/t Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor), but that will be a tough game, anyhow.
Every team going forward in this road trip out West is at or above .500 on the season, per NBA.com. Each night will present a different challenge in the form of a star or formidable team, something Cleveland will have to gear up for. And with the season winding down, these games will hold some weight in terms of deciding who should be on the roster for the long haul.
Seven of the 15 active members of the roster are free agents at the end of the season. That means one way or another they’re going to be playing for another contract during the last forty games of this campaign. Heck, if they don’t play well enough, they may be traded and left wondering what their future looks like as a player with an expiring contract.
It’s not the nicest way of putting it but it’s the cruel reality of the business. In year one of this rebuild, there’s a process in which the organization figures out who they want on the roster for the foreseeable future. The Cavaliers are at that stage of their rebuilding process and will have to make those tough calls here soon.
January 21st is the final game of this road trip, which works out perfectly for the Wine and Gold. They will have a chance to see who folds under the adversity and struggles compared to who’s able to tough it out and put out their best effort nightly. That will ultimately determine the look of the roster after the NBA Trade Deadline in just a few weeks on February 7th.