2 goals for Cavs’ Robin Lopez in the 2022-23 season

Goal #1: Lopez is efficient in his minutes, having near his career per-36 averages, and/or gives the team capable insurance

I’m not going to have big-time expectations for Lopez this coming season for the Cavaliers. He is entering his age-34 season (he turned that in April), and Lopez has bounced around in his career, with the Cavs set to be his ninth team in what will be 15 seasons thus far.

With those caveats out there, it’s apparent that Lopez is not going to be a player that’s in the rotation every game. He’s likely going to receive his share of DNPs, but I do believe he could give this team a lift when his number is called this coming season, still.

Lopez is a player that can be a viable roller in some stretches in pick-and-roll with Darius Garland, among others, such as his former teammate on Washington in Raul Neto at times, and Lopez can convert looks in the post.

He, as we noted, was active in just 36 games with Orlando last season, but with more of a regular role with Washington the season prior, he did have 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per outing, in 71 appearances.

Lopez is a unorthodox player to some degree, however, he can use his 7-foot, 281-pound frame to get to interior looks from early seals, and his hook shots, while awkward looking, have been money for him in recent seasons. So, in some matchups, I’d look to see that from him in rotational minutes.

Relating to the goal stated above for him, despite some minutes inconsistencies in recent seasons, such as with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019-20 as well, Lopez having near his career per-36 minutes averages would be fairly successful as a deep reserve. Him having in the ball park of his career per-36 averages of 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds would be fine, in my opinion, likely given minutes variance.

And while I’m not wanting it to happen obviously, in a long season, as Cavaliers fans know all too well, injuries happen. So, if needed at some points here and there, Lopez filling in alright as playable depth, for instance, earlier in the rotation pattern, or as an occasional spot start 5, would be meaningful.

To reiterate, we’re not discussing Mobley or Allen here.