Cavs: An early look at the starting lineup, rotation minutes

The Cleveland Cavaliers began training camp this week, and preseason games start in just a handful of games. For the first time in a while there is significant optimism around the team, with breakouts and bouncebacks expected around the roster. This team has also avoided the drama and dysfunction of years past.

Over the next couple of weeks, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his coaching staff will need to determine how they want to deploy this team. Part of that process will be narrowing it down to 15 players, and then picking out the starters, backups and specialists.

The Cavs enter the season with real optimism. What should the starting lineup and rotation minutes look like for this talented group?

There are likely just six players in line to start, and a core seven of players guaranteed significant minutes: Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen, Jarrett Allen and Ricky Rubio. Yet behind them there are players who legitimately deserve rotation roles, or who have enough potential that the Cavs need to play them to learn more.

That will lead to some difficult decisions. Who plays with who? Who is left out? Do you play the veteran team icon who has faded hard these last few seasons, or the unremarkable-looking undrafted player on a non-guaranteed deal who makes every lineup better? These are the kinds of decisions Bickerstaff has to make. Here’s an early look at how he might decide to lay things out.