2 realistic expectations for Cavs’ Robin Lopez next season

Realistic expectation #1 for Lopez with the Cavs in 2022-23: Lopez provides playable offensive depth at the 5, and helps some with rim protection

The first realistic expectation for Lopez next season with the Wine and Gold is him being playable depth, offensively in this sense, and he can help some with rim protection in stretches.

With Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, the latter to some extent still I’d think, Lopez won’t be an every game-type of contributor, but he can be particularly useful in some matchups, and when the looks do come, he can give the Cavs an offensive lift.

Lopez did not have a consistent role with the Orlando Magic last season, with them firmly tanking and prioritizing getting young players minutes. He did 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, which was fine in his role, albeit in only 36 appearances.

Lopez has shown in other stops in his career, such as with the Chicago Bulls from 2016-17 through 2018-19 and with the Washington Wizards in 2020-21, that he’s a viable interior offensive player, though.

Lopez, who had 9.1 points per game with Washington in rotational play in 2020-21 in 19.1 minutes on average, has been money on hook shots in recent seasons. And despite the motion being goofy looking, he gets it done in those plays, and could help Cleveland in some stretches where Allen gets a breather.

Lopez is a nice roller, too, and can make a difference as a 7-foot screening presence, and at times, he’s able to make plays on push shots or lay-ins after pocket feeds in pick-and-roll. Those are things to anticipate in his minutes.

As far as defensively, Lopez is not a dude who you want in there every game, as he’s hardly Allen or Mobley and is limited in terms of quickness and/or fluidity, and he’s up there at 34. However, he can help the Cavaliers a good deal in defensive glass cleaning in spurts, and his 7-foot-6 wingspan is still meaningful for rim protection.

He is a high IQ team defender also, and as a veteran, can make an impact as a communicator and help young guys sort through off-ball defensive assignments. Granted, I do acknowledge that he is defensively limited when it comes to mobility, but his presence offensively for a few stretches in games could aid Cleveland and his frame and finishing/screening are useful.