Whether or not front office changes happen, Cavs could have core forming
By Dan Gilinsky
![Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports) Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/4a2b5d99cd77620408e22348e5abbba60bab4150a494d705c1fac865b98bd978.jpg)
Allen and Okoro could be in that mold, too, and the Cavs could add a few impact pieces
Additionally, whether or not Gilbert moves on from Altman, I would expect Allen to be a core piece moving forward, too, and one would expect him to be locked up this upcoming offseason.
He just wrapped up his first season averaging a double-double, and his chemistry with both Garland and Sexton has improved upon more experience with them following his trade acquisition from the Brooklyn Nets.
The rim protection from Allen and glass cleaning shouldn’t be discounted either, nor should him being just 23.
And lastly, while we’ll have to see if front office changes are eventually made, Isaac Okoro could be a core piece for coming years. I can’t say that’s a guarantee, but with the defensive abilities he’s displayed, even with such a tough rookie workload, he appears to be a keeper.
Okoro’s offense and shooting needs to continue to come along though, and hopefully, the assertiveness he displayed in the season’s closing stretch can lead to more success for him next season.
Albeit with Isaac, he does need to improve on-ball, become a pull-up threat and get better with his handle; that’s not to say that can’t happen, however, if he’s developed properly.
Anyway, though it remains to be seen what the 2021 NBA Draft will bring for Cleveland, they should be able to land a quality contributor, and that’s with a very deep and talented draft.
Now, if Okoro is potentially moved to a bench role in that process, it happens, but I’d still expect him to be a significant piece.
We’ll have to see what plays out with Kevin Love, in relation to his contract/whether or not he could be eventually waived and stretched before next season. That’s not the simplest ordeal.
But no matter what happens involving a possible front office set of changes, if the Cavaliers can add a few complementary pieces, such as McConnell/Ntilikina or Patty Mills, and with their high lottery pick in a deep draft, they could be pretty set.
To me, while I can’t say it for certain, also factoring in their pick to come feasibly, the Cavs could have their core, and if a front office change is set to be made, it’ll be up to them to ensure the core continues to mesh and Cleveland puts the right ancillary pieces around that core to return to relevance.
Some veteran leadership would help, too, whether that’s on the floor and/or off it/behind the scenes more, one would assume. For context, Fedor did touch on how this offseason, Cleveland’s key young pieces could potentially end up broken up, but his take on the progression of those guys appeared to make it seem that’s not a particularly high possibility.
The Cavaliers do need to learn how to win; I get that, and J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t have the strongest season, injuries aside. It’s not as if the circumstances were the best for him or the young guys, though.
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Moreover, we’ll again have to see what plays out, but the progression of Sexton-Garland, the Allen add and Okoro’s defense/strong finish shouldn’t be discounted.