Cavs: Predicting their starting lineup, rotation after free agency
Predicting the Cavs’ starting lineup after free agency
PG: Darius Garland
Darius Garland started 50 of the 54 games he played last season, becoming entrenched as the point guard of the future as the Cavs officially moved Collin Sexton over to the 2. He responded by averaging 6.1 assists per game, 18th in the league, and knocking down 39.5 percent of his 3-pointers. Entering his third season, the job is his as he seeks to grow not only into a starter but a star.
SG: Collin Sexton
Sexton has started 197 of his 207 career games, including every game in his second and third seasons. Now entering his fourth he has developed into a dynamic scoring threat, finishing through defenders or pulling up in their face. There is a chance Sexton is traded, which would obviously mix things up, but for now he has the fast track to being their leading scorer yet again.
SF: Isaac Okoro
While Garland and Sexton have to an extent earned their starting spots, Isaac Okoro was handed his gift-wrapped with a bow last season. He started all 67 games he played in, both team highs, and with no other small forward options in sight he is a virtual lock to start again this upcoming season. If he is unable to hit a shot and is only marginally effective on defense, as he was as a rookie, then perhaps the team brings in some competition. If he builds on the flashes he showed in Summer League, he could quickly become the two-way force this team needs him to be on the wing.
PF: Evan Mobley
There is a reasonable argument to be made for bringing Evan Mobley along more slowly and having him come off the bench early in his career. While that could still happen, the reporting coming out of Cleveland that Kevin Love will come off the bench clears the spot for Mobley to start. Tall, fluid and skilled in a multitude of ways, his development is the future for the Cavs.
C: Jarrett Allen
The best player on the Cavs relative to his position, Jarrett Allen was brought back on a five-year, $100 million contract. He will start at center, as he did for the second half of the season with Andre Drummond out of town. He came four total rebounds short of averaging a double-double last year, but this season he should be even more of an impact player.