Cavs: 3 ways to compare their young core across the league
Cavs: 3 ways to compare their young core across the league – Tallying All-Rookie Picks
Measuring a team’s Top 10 picks highlights the draft pedigree each roster has, but using their rookie season to better inform the measurement is helpful as well. Ten players are selected to the “All-Rookie” teams each year, an imperfect but useful way of evaluating young talent.
The Cavs fail to distinguish themselves from the pack here. Across four classes of players they have three such players: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Isaac Okoro. Jarrett Allen had a small role as a rookie, while Darius Garland dealt with injuries his first season as he eased his way into the league.
The Memphis Grizzlies are immediate standouts in this category, with four such All-Rookie selections. They are headlined by Ja Morant, but also include Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. While the Grizzlies have exceptional depth and therefore don’t start all of their youngest players, they line up well with the Cavs in terms of young players with varying skillsets that could fill out a lineup.
Atlanta shows up again here, with four All-Rookie nods of their own. Trae Young was a first team selection in 2019, with Kevin Huerter on the second team; John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic (then on the Sacramento Kings) were second team selections in 2018.
There is a danger in relying on overly simplistic numbers to evaluate players or a team’s overall talent level. NBA teams have gotten themselves in trouble simply looking at points and rebounds, for example, to determine a player’s worth. Yet these simple measuring sticks allow for quick and objective comparisons between teams, which can be a valuable exercise.
Next. Updated starting lineup, rotation after Lauri Markkanen addition. dark
The Cavs don’t have the best young talent in the league because of their lack of a superstar, and they don’t have quite as many youngsters as the Orlando Magic. Even so they are right in the mix on both points, the only team with a breadth of young talent that spans every draft class since 2017 and is without a gaping hole. They hope this season can be a major step forward for that young core and for the franchise’s future.