Projecting the Cavs’ top 4 defenders in the 2022-23 season

The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked as the 5th overall team in the 2021-22 season when it came to defensive rating. Falling behind teams like the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland is definitely in good company. With the Cavs continuing to develop at a fast pace, their potential for being a defensive powerhouse in the NBA is certainly on the horizon.

Looking ahead to this coming season, it is possible we see the Cavs take a leap to the 4th, or 3rd spot overall in general defense. Four players in particular stand out as the ones who will elevate Cleveland’s status as one of the best defensive teams in the league. As we look ahead to the 2022-23 season, the Cavs’ potential to be a top 3 defensive team rests on three young players and one veteran.

It’s not like the Cavaliers are desperate for a drastic leap in their defensive capabilities, however investing in their skills and continuing to implement J.B. Bickerstaff’s various schemes will only benefit the team overall on the defensive side of the ball.

Throughout this article, we will predict the top four defenders for the Cavs, and discuss their potential stats and other contributions they can make to this team for the 2022-23 NBA season. Let’s begin with our 4th-ranked defender.

Projecting the Cavs’ 4 best defenders in 2022-23 – #4: Ricky Rubio

When someone hears “Cleveland Cavaliers” and “Defense” in the same sentence, their mind might naturally go to one of the many big men on the roster. Ricky Rubio may not be the first name someone would select as the 4th-ranked defender for this Cavs team, but his statline from last season tells a different story.

Last year Rubio averaged 4.1 rebounds per game. For a 31-year-old veteran in the league, a consistent average of 4 rebounds a game is fairly impressive for a guard. However, what was more impressive was Rubio’s average of 1.4 steals per game. Leading the Cavs overall last year in steals per contest in his games in, Rubio definitely made his contribution to the teams’ defense.

As a defensive playmaker, Ricky was absolutely integral to the teams’ success last year. In hindsight, losing Rubio to injury in the latter half of the 2021-22 season hit the team harder than they realized. Soon after the guard would be traded to the Indiana Pacers, and the Cavs would bring back Caris LeVert. Thankfully the basketball gods were looking out for the Cavs this offseason, and the front office was able to sign Ricky Rubio to a new 3-year contract.

Bringing Rubio back on a multi-year deal might not be one of the flashier moves of this NBA’s offseason, but in my opinion it was certainly one of the moves most sensible. Has Rubio slowed down a step or two? Sure, when you start to hit your 30s in a sport like this, it only makes sense you’d start to ease on the brakes. Unless you’re a particular player from the Northeast Ohio area that’s currently playing in LA, father time has a way of catching up.

So, what do we predict Rubio’s stats will look like for the upcoming season on the defensive end of things? Well if we look back at Rubio’s last few seasons in Phoenix and Minnesota prior to him joining the Cavaliers, there is something interesting to note.

During Rubio’s time as a Phoenix Sun, he averaged 4.7 rebounds per game for the 2019-20 season. The next year in the 2020-21 season Rubio only averaged 3.3 rebounds per game with the Timberwolves. Following that, in Cleveland he averaged 4.1 rebounds per game. I predict that Rubio’s total rebound average will actually increase from 4.1 per game to 4.5 per game.

Moreover, the last 3 seasons of his career, Ricky has managed to keep a consistent average of 1.4 steals per game. I believe he will continue this trend in the 2022-23 season.

Although his success may be contingent upon him finding his groove after his second ACL tear in his left knee, Ricky Rubio gets my vote for the Cavs’ potential 4th-ranked defender for next season in terms of impact. With that being the second time he has suffered an injury of that caliber in the same area, Ricky might need to ease back into the season, but I do not foresee that being too much of a complication for the veteran guard.

Overall Ricky Rubio will be a key defender, not necessarily because of the rebound and steals average, but more so due to the non-numerical advantages he provides to the team and as a heady team defensive presence. As a veteran guard, his defensive grit, and playmaking experience will provide consistency for the team.

Projecting the Cavs’ 4 best defenders in 2022-23 – #3: Ochai Agbaji

Ranking Ochai Agbaji as the 3rd overall defender for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2022-23 season might be a little premature. Yet, looking at the rookie’s stats from his collegiate years and the Las Vegas Summer League, I believe the Cavs’ 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has a strong case to be this team’s 3rd-best defender.

For starters, although he is a rookie to the league, the former Jayhawk is already 22 years old. Having played four years of collegiate ball, Agbaji has had the time to improve his defensive skills on the court. Being one of the younger players on the team, he also has the time to improve and expand his talents.

Ochai Agbaji played as a wing/guard for the Kansas Jayhawks from 2018 to 2022. He and his team would win the NCAA title in his last year, where he would be given the honor of the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. Throughout those four years at Kansas, Ochai managed to put up the following defensive stats.

As a freshman, he averaged 3.6 defensive rebounds per game, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Sophomore year, Ochai had an average of 3.0 defensive rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 blocks. As a junior, he averaged 2.7 defensive rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. In his final year, Agbaji managed to average 4.2 defensive rebounds per game, along with 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

Cleveland’s newest addition played in 4 games during the Summer League in Vegas, and managed to average 4 defensive rebounds per game, with 1.25 steals. As a 6-foot-5 wing, Ochai has the potential to be a successful 3-and-D player for the Cavaliers. With his reliable athleticism, Ochai Agbaji easily has one of the best upsides out of any player on this Cavs’ roster. The rookie definitely fits the mold of gritty defenders in Cleveland. The former Jayhawk is a guy I can see being utilized on the court to contest shots against opponents.

I can see Ochai’s defense truly being unlocked by playing in a lineup alongside Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Ochai has had 4 years to develop in the Big 12 Conference.

Many players on the Cavs only played 1 or 2 years in college before entering into the league. Ochai needs to use this extra time to his advantage, and come out this season playing with a high level of confidence. To expand on his defensive capabilities, Agbaji cannot be afraid to take on some of the league’s toughest matchups.

As far as the glass-cleaning element, one could foresee him helping Cleveland some there, and with his vertical athleticism, he could make a difference as an additional rim protector on the weak side. This Cavs rookie has the makings of a successful wing player with high upside on the defensive end of the ball.

Projecting the Cavs’ 4 best defenders in 2022-23 – #2: Jarrett Allen

It’s been over a year now since the multi-team blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets took place. While that trade did not end up working out in Brooklyn’s favor, Cleveland was able to benefit immensely from it. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – the Cleveland Cavaliers were the true winners of the massive James Harden trade.

Bringing in Jarrett Allen to this Cavs squad gave the team their center of the future, and provided one half of one of the most formidable frontcourts in the league. Signing Allen to a 5-year contract was one of the best moves this Cavs’ front office has made.

Last year, Jarrett managed to average 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, along with an average of 1.3 blocks. Prior to that, in his first NBA season playing with the Cavs the big man had averaged 6.8 defensive rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Allen led the team overall in total rebounds with 10.8 per game. Allen managed to put up a consistent double-double average last season, with his 10.8 rebounds and 16.1 points per game, both of which were career-bests.

Jarrett Allen’s absence due to injury in the post-All Star stretch of games was very detrimental to the teams’ success last year, though.

As the 1st overall defender, and 2nd overall scorer on the team, the Fro has been a pivotal piece of this team’s upward trajectory. As pointed out in a recent tweet by BasketballNews.com, Allen managed to hold his opponents to the lowest field goal percentage within 6 feet of the basket last season at 48.6%.

Jarrett ranked number 1 in this stat over players like Jaren Jackson Jr., Rudy Gobert, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. To say Allen is a major contributor to the Cavs’ defense would be an understatement. Allen is one of the most instrumental pieces to this teams’ defense, and just overall success in general.

Off the court Allen is humble as they come, and I believe it would work in his favor to lean into this mindset more. Allen will only continue to improve, and the work will speak for itself. I’m predicting big things for the big man in the future. I believe he will be back in the All-Star game again, this time as a starter, potentially, and I would not be surprised if we saw a possible Defensive Player of the Year accolade with his name next to it.

Is it a bit overzealous to put these expectations out there? I truly don’t think so, the writing is on the wall for Jarrett Allen to be one of the best defensive players for the Cavs, and in the league overall this upcoming season.

Now, while Allen managed to claim the title of the best defender for the Cavs last year, I believe there is one player who will take the leap and surpass the Fro as Cleveland’s best defender for the 2022-23 season.

Projecting the Cavs’ 4 best defenders in 2022-23 – #1: Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley. Perhaps the biggest difference-maker this Cavaliers team has had in a while. Reporters and analysts alike have predicted Mobley’s game will evolve into a combination of Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, or seemingly something of that ilk. That prediction alone warrants a discussion for the top defender for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the upcoming season.

Previously I had mentioned that Jarrett Allen makes up one half of one of the NBA’s most formidable frontcourts, well Evan Mobley is the other half. Playing alongside Jarrett Allen was instrumental in Mobley’s development. Many people believed Cleveland would look to move on from Allen after drafting Mobley, theoretically, but I was always intrigued by the prospect of the two playing together. So, when it came time for the regular season, I was not disappointed in the slightest bit.

A generational talent, Mobley is easily one of the best players to come out of the draft last year. I think I speak for the entire population of Cleveland, Ohio when I say that Evan Mobley deserved to win Rookie of the Year last year. But, this article is not meant to pit Mobley against Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors. Both players have the makings of being foundational pieces to their teams and will continue to show abundant amounts of success for years to come.

Evan Mobley ranked 2nd overall in total rebounds for the Cavs last year, averaging 8.3 per game, and more specifically, 6.2 defensive rebounds a game. Mobley also led the team with the most blocks per game at 1.7. Mobley was one of the best players on the Cavs roster last year, and one of the best rookies in the league.

Essentially, all of his defensive abilities were on full display, whether it was his knack for locking up the perimeter, protecting the rim, switching up on opponents when necessary, or just his overall basketball intelligence. Mobley was without a doubt the best choice for the Cavs with the 3rd pick last year.

Given that Mobley just wrapped up his rookie season and is already being talked about as a “generational talent” or “cornerstone piece to the franchise” says a lot about the young Cavalier’s potential and where the team sees him fitting into the overall timeline.

Just like his partner in crime, I predict we may see Mobley up for a DPOY Award in the not-too-distant future. Between Allen and Mobley, it would be a tight race, but either way having a DPOY on the Cavs would be huge. I predict we will see Mobley finish this upcoming season as the Cavaliers’ best/most impactful defender with an average of 11.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Mobley’s ascent to stardom has only just begun.