Year in Review: 5 key moments that changed the Cavs in 2021

5 key moments that changed the Cavs in 2021 – 5. Collin Sexton getting injured

Of our five biggest events of the year, this one is the only happening that appears negative on the surface. For Collin Sexton is unquestionably is, as he is heading towards free agency and has some tough decisions to make about his future. The Cavs, likewise, will have to evaluate his value to the team without the helpful knowledge of how he would have played on the court this year.

Yet when Sexton went down to a meniscus injury in that game against the New York Knicks, it opened up an opportunity for the rest of the backcourt to step up. Darius Garland suddenly had more of a scoring load, while Ricky Rubio had minutes alongside Garland he could step in and fill.

Together the two have taken off, and the Cavs have followed suit. Sexton is a talented player who would help this team, especially with Rubio now out for the season, but his ball dominance was taking the ball out of Garland’s hands. Sexton is a good scorer; Garland is a good scorer, better shooter and a significantly better playmaker. With Sexton he scored points; with Garland everyone scores points.

There is a world where Sexton is traded or signs with another team this summer, but there is also a world where he returns healthy next season and fits into his role, perhaps as a high-minute substitute given the green light to score without Garland. Right now this is becoming Garland’s team, and that transition may have been delayed or suppressed if Sexton was still suiting up.

2021 was a good year for the Cavs, one in which they added three starters in a frontcourt that is dominating teams. Perhaps in a year’s time, we can look back on 2022 and see successful transactions, big wins and a rise in status for this exciting young team.