The Cleveland Cavaliers are no strangers to All-Star talent. From the days of Mark Price and Brad Daugherty to a couplet of LeBron James tenures, the Cavs have had a number of talented players wear the wine-and-gold. They look like they are on the cusp of another such wave.
Last season the Cavs had two All-Stars, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, both 23 years old or younger at the time. It was the first such nod for both, with Garland making the Eastern Conference reserves and Allen being named an injury replacement (which counts just the same!).
The Cleveland Cavaliers had two All-Stars last year in their surprise season. Which players on the team have a chance to be All-Stars this time around?
Looking ahead, the Cavs understandably are optimistic about the future of their young core, and they expect many more All-Star appearances from this group. Yet the future is unpredictable, and many young players make an All-Star Game and never return – some because of a drop-off in play (D’Angelo Russell), some from injuries (Kristaps Porzingis) and some because of the competition to make the game, even if they continue playing like an All-Star (Jrue Holiday).
The Cavs, their players and their fans therefore cannot assume their young core will all be perennial All-Stars, and next season the competition will be fierce. Let’s walk through the players who could feasibly make the All-Star Game next season and rank them by order of likelihood they will be awarded the honor. That means we start with one of last year’s breakouts stars.