Cavs: Evaluating the fit of Lauri Markkanen with Evan Mobley

Finally, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made another move in free agency. It seemed like the Cavs were on the outside looking in over these last few weeks when it came to free agency moves, but then a few days ago Cleveland was involved in a three-team trade with Chicago and Portland. The trade saw the following outcomes: the Chicago Bulls acquiring Derrick Jones Jr along with a protected first-round pick and a second-round draft pick, Cleveland gaining Lauri Markkanen, and the Portland Trail Blazers receiving a Cavaliers’ fan favorite in Larry Nance Jr.

Initially, when I first saw this trade, I cannot lie, I was upset. I was upset that Cleveland was losing such an important player. Larry Nance Jr was not the best player on the team by any means, nor was he a franchise-changing piece. However, Larry often acted as the heart of the team. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Nance understood what it was like to be a Clevelander.

Being born and raised in the Cleveland area myself, I always saw Larry as one of the most important players on this team.  Portland got a good one, that’s a certainty.  This contributor wishes nothing but the best for Nance, here’s hoping he can succeed out west.  Larry’s presence on the team positively impacted its culture, and he will always be welcomed back home.  As Larry said in his goodbye letter; “you can take the kid out of Cleveland, but you can’t take Cleveland out of the kid.”

The Cavs have their big free agent acquisition on board in Lauri Markkanen

Now, let’s talk about this trade for Cleveland.  Koby Altman and the Cavaliers’ front office were involved in a sign and trade deal for Lauri Markkanen on a 4 year $67 million deal.  Lauri’s time in Chicago started off strong, but over the years coaching woes and erratic changes to his role on the team factored into Lauri’s stagnation as a player. Perhaps a change of scenery in Cleveland will provide Lauri with a new resurgence of confidence.  Altman said it himself, the Cavaliers’ organization believes that Markannen’s best basketball is in front of him.

Lauri Markkanen will be joining a young Cavaliers squad that’s hungry to reach the next phase of a rebuilding process. Among those young Cavs, is the newly drafted big man, Evan Mobley.  Throughout this article we will examine and evaluate how Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen will fit together in Cleveland.