What would constitute a successful ’22-23 season for Cavs’ Robin Lopez?

All of the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ three offseason signings to this point, not counting Collin Sexton being extended a qualifying offer in this sense, were with veteran depth in mind. Of the three, Ricky Rubio being back was the most notable, and upon his return from injury, he still can make a significant impact.

The other two signings were Raul Neto and Robin Lopez via one-year, veteran’s minimum deals; Rubio’s deal was for three years and $18.4 million, with the third season partially-guaranteed.

Both Neto and Lopez can provide meaningful minutes for Cleveland as well, at least in theory. With Neto, he could aid the team as a reserve ball-mover/guard defender until Rubio returns, more so, and with Lopez, he should be a playable depth 5 and be an insurance piece.

On the subject of Lopez, though, what would qualify as a solid campaign for him, for what’s realistically expected of him, then?

We’ll examine that in the general sense regarding Lopez in 2022-23 for the Cavs here.

This is not Brook Lopez, Robin’s brother we’re discussing here. That Lopez has transformed his game into being not only an elite rim protector, but one of the NBA’s more valuable stretch bigs in recent years for the Milwaukee Bucks, when he’s been healthy, which has helped open up the lane for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Robin Lopez can be a playable depth 5 for the Cavaliers, though, even with this set to be his 15th season, with Cleveland set to be his ninth team in that span. I get it, Lopez is not going to have a big role with the team game in and game out.

He’s likely not going to be normally involved in every game. That being said, Lopez only being involved in 36 games during last season with the Orlando Magic was more so because Orlando was tanking and they wanted to get young guys more minutes. The Cavs are still largely young among their bigs, too, but at a different stage.

If Lopez can provide Cleveland with a few stretches in games this coming season, to help preserve Allen and/or Mobley, to some extent, that’d be meaningful throughout the year. I’d say that’s for now, at least a fair expectation.

If he can be effective as a rotational interior presence, make his looks as a roller and on hook shots, which he should be able to do, and draw some fouls here and there, that’s what the Cavaliers should be looking for. Lopez did have 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per outing with the Washington Wizards in 2020-21, in 71 appearances.

I wouldn’t expect him to be playing in 71 games with the Cavs this coming season, but he should be a capable option for stretches and aid the team in dealing with some physical 5s for stretches, and at least as a true 7-footer, Lopez can help as a rim protector a bit.

For clarification, this isn’t a guy who is going to be playing 20-plus minutes in games regularly. Having said that, I could see Lopez being a player that can be viable in some spot starts at times for Allen throughout the year if injuries occur, and that’d provide some piece of mind.

Overall, though, as a veteran who has been around for a while, if Lopez can remain healthy, which he’s typically been, can give Cleveland a legit interior presence for stretches, help on the defensive glass and as a screener, I’d take that in a few stretches per appearance.

And behind the scenes, I do think with Lopez’s offensive abilities, and his post work and footwork, he could help Allen in his continued offensive development.

Anyways, for a vet bargain signing, Lopez should be viable depth in a number of matchups for stretches, seemingly, and if he can be some of a meaningful interior scorer, rebounder and screener, that’d be fine.

His mentorship behind the scenes for other young bigs is something that had to have been in mind with his signing, too, for what it’s worth, and he has the makings of a fan favorite. I’m aware that Lopez won’t be having a big role game in and game out, but if he can help preserve Allen and be fairly viable, that’d meet expectations.