Cavs: Updated starting lineup, rotation after Lauri Markkanen addition

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Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls. Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images /

Cavs: Updated starting lineup, rotation – Bench players

Ricky Rubio

Losing Nance means that the Cavs have one less solid defender, and it puts even more onus on Rubio as a point-of-attack stopper knowing there is more likely to be little help behind him. At the least, adding Markkanen and his spacing means it’s more likely the Cavs can survive having another defensive specialist on the court in addition to Rubio.

Dylan Windler

If healthy, Dylan Windler looks like a player this team needs to find minutes for. He is a savvy player with a smooth stroke and the ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. Injuries have completely marred his first two seasons, but if he can get to the court he should have a defined spot in the rotation.

Lamar Stevens

This is a change from previous projections, as the addition of Lauri Markkanen likely does two things. One, it pushes Dean Wade out of the rotation due to the stacked deck of power forwards. Secondly, it both necessitates and allows for the playing of a forward defender alongside Markkanen. That player on the current roster is Lamar Stevens, who is already a solid defender but is a non-factor as a shooter. He should get more run alongside Markkanen and take on the toughest forward assignment.

Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen will step into a high-minute backup role and immediately help the spacing, something that trickles down to help everyone he plays with. He’ll take a certain amount of shots, more than Nance, but he will also make life easier for the players around him. Defensively he causes more stress, especially given the team’s likely backup center, but the Cavs have committed to dealing with that stress and not choked spacing from bench units.

Kevin Love

Love played center for the majority of the contending years, manning the center in “small ball” lineups with LeBron James or Richard Jefferson at the 4 and then moving there full-time when Timofey Mozgov left. The problem is that Love is not a rim protector, and he needs a Tristan Thompson or a LeBron James beside him to help keep the paint from being an engraved invitation for opponents to drive to the rim. He should have that when paired with Evan Mobley, but minutes with Markkanen will be potent offensively and a train wreck on defense.