Cleveland Cavaliers: Constructing the dream offseason

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Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

The Cleveland Cavaliers roster:

Once the smoke clears on their busy offseason, the Cavaliers will have re-signed a key restricted free agent, reset the age of their roster, diversified the roster positionally and significantly improved the defense while retaining their best defender. That results in the following roster:

Starters: Darius Garland, Buddy Hield, Franz Wagner, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Bench Rotation: Delon Wright, Isaac Okoro, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dylan Windler, Larry Nance Jr., Lauri Markkanen

Deep Bench: Cedi Osman, Taurean Prince, Dean Wade, Isaiah Hartenstein

The Cavaliers have a few different options in their backcourt, but Darius Garland is the obvious starter as the centerpiece of their long-term guard rotation. Buddy Hield’s shooting elevates him to the starting spot at the 2, but Alexander-Walker or Okoro will both see time there. The rookie lottery picks start at the 3 and the 4 as the team looks to get them reps early, but Nance Jr. would be a more deserving starter if one or both rookies began the season on the bench. Allen is the other surefire starter bracketing the lineup opposite of Garland.

The bench is both young and versatile. Alexander-Walker and Wright can both swing between both guard positions, and Okoro is the defensive sub or possible starter ahead of Wagner. If Windler can stay healthy his shooting will keep him in the rotation, while similarly Markkanen’s floor-spacing will make him a valuable backup to Allen. The ship has sailed on Osman’s upside as a long-term piece, while Prince doesn’t need to play at all and both Wade and Hartenstein will see time when injuries hit the frontcourt.

Next. Ranking the 3 most valuable trade chips. dark

This “dream offseason” moves on from veterans of the past to stock the roster with young talent for the future. Instead of forcing players into roles they aren’t suited for it gives head coach J.B. Bickerstaff a plethora of options all maximized within their roles. The team retains Nance for now but can trade him at the deadline if they are blown away by an offer. Given where the Cavaliers are as a franchise right now, this is a slam dunk of a summer for a Cleveland team in need of one.