Cleveland Cavaliers: Evaluating the state of the PF position
The power forward position for the Cleveland Cavaliers now represents their only true link to their championship past, as recent as it was. With longtime Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova leaving the NBA for Australia’s NBL, only former All-Star Kevin Love remains from this franchise’s four straight NBA Finals appearances.
While he may be a public connection, he also has not played much for the team over the past three seasons, unable to cultivate on-court that connective tissue he was a part of as an NBA champion and perennial contender. Instead he is battling injuries and an aging body as he tries to prove to the team and to the league that he is still an impact player.
Power forward is a well-stocked position for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Do they need to touch this position in the NBA Draft or free agency?
Just like Love in his career, the Cavaliers are at a crossroads when it comes to the power forward position. They have multiple options on the roster; do they stand pat with what they have, or do they swing for the fences and reach for something greater at the risk of neglecting other positions?
In a league where teams are increasingly choosing to downsize, a team’s power forward becomes incredibly valuable, as it is they who will slide down to play center. Do the Cavaliers have that positional versatility among their current PFs? Should this team try to get younger at the position to better match their young backcourt’s timetable?
With some clear options available in the NBA Draft and free agency, the franchise needs to evaluate what it has and make a decision before the offseason begins. What is the state of their power forward position, and what does that mean moving forward?