3 potential starting lineups for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021-22
By Corey Casey
Here, we’ll examine how the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting lineup could potentially look after the 2020 NBA Draft and a loaded 2021 NBA Draft.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the early stages of a rebuild, as they continue to look to move in the right direction.
Currently, their roster is oddly constructed, and as such, they’ll continue to experiment with lineups and it appears they are still looking for the best talent draft-wise.
After the 2021 NBA Draft, the Cavs could fill their biggest need, being a franchise centerpiece with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga at the top of that draft, with Kuminga seeming to be on the cusp of making his reclassification official.
It is not the case for him just yet, per Corey Evans of Rivals, but Kuminga did recently graduate from The Patrick School, seemingly locking him into the 2021 draft.
Sources have told @Rivals that while Kuminga has completed his classes at The Patrick School, remains a member of the 2021 class. Announcement regarding a reclassification could be made sometime soon, though.
— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) June 8, 2020
Discussed his options on Friday. https://t.co/GINkazsJbj https://t.co/elBEpe0u7e
In that 2021 NBA Draft, we could see the Cavs go best talent available, regardless of position, and worry more about fit/roster construction later, as the Cavs try to put this thing together.
The Cavs will have to answer a few questions between now and that point, though. Again they need that franchise player/centerpiece, and there are questions about Andre Drummond’s long term viability with them.
He is reportedly likely to pick up his $28.8 million player option for 2020-21, but it’s uncertain regarding him, anyhow, and Kevin Love could feasibly be dealt by that time/shortly after the 2021 draft, and I’m definitely skeptical of the Darius Garland-Collin Sexton backcourt.
When it comes to the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, I really don’t see a franchise player. Georgia’s Anthony Edwards is the most talented and has the upside, as he had 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in his lone collegiate season, but he has a good amount of risk and is by no means a sure thing.
The good news for the Cavs is 2021 is shaping up to be the strongest and deepest draft class in a long time. As long as the Cavaliers end up in the top three guaranteeing themselves one of Cunningham, Green or Kuminga, I’m confident they can find that centerpiece in 2021.
We still don’t know if that will happen yet with the newer lottery rules of course, but it does seem to be a legitimate possibility.
With that said, here, we’ll highlight three potential Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting lineups for the 2021-2022 season.
We’ll get started now, with a lineup featuring Cunningham.