The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best young cores in the NBA and with the recent trade acquisition of Donovan Mitchell (of which you can view more on regarding reported details here), I think it’s safe to say they now have a great argument for the undisputed top spot. A bold statement, I know, but let’s look at a short breakdown of the deal.
The Cavs agreed to a deal with the Utah Jazz Thursday where they sent 3 unprotected first-round picks, 2 pick swaps, Collin Sexton (via sign-and-trade), Lauri Markkannen, and Ochai Agbaji for Mitchell.
This gives Cleveland now 3 All-Stars, (Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen) and 1 with blooming All-Star potential in Evan Mobley.
Do the Cavs now have the best young core after the Donovan Mitchell trade? This article seeks the answer and sees how they stack up against the league.
To determine who qualifies as part of a young core, some criteria must be made. To keep it simple I have decided to make the qualifications if a player is 25 or younger they will count towards the team’s young core. To not dilute the pool of players has to be somewhat of a rotational piece (at least 15 mpg) or show potential to become one. I am not a fortune teller so some rookies may be left off because I do not know enough about them or the team’s plans for them.
You may find my qualifications arbitrary, which may be a fair assessment, but this was the fairest way I could think of.
With that being said I divided the NBA’s best young cores into 3 categories: good, great, and dynasty. Let’s look at how the Cavs stack up against the rest of the league’s young talent.
The Good Tier
The teams in this group have a few solid pieces but are lacking direction or an overall superstar.
Orlando Magic Notable Players: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz
There is no denying the overall talent they possess but I think they will run into some rotation struggles as there are only 48 minutes to be played. It remains to be seen if No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero can fill the void Dwight Howard left over a decade ago.
Detroit Pistons Notable Players: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes, Jalen Duren
Killian Hayes has somewhat failed as Detroit’s guard of the future as since drafting him they took two better players in Cunningham and Ivey. Cunningham could blossom into that superstar role as he showed excellent flashes as a rookie.
Houston Rockets Notable Players: Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr.
Out of these three teams, I think H-town will finish with the lowest amount of wins but things are trending up for them just nearly 2 years after the James Harden trade and it seems they have their superstar of the future in Jalen Green. Green started slowly in his rookie season but showed huge promise in the second half when they fully embraced the tank. Keep an eye on rookie Smith Jr. as well.
Honorable mention: Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Great Tier
Teams in this tier have proven young players but might lack the overall depth to be a dynasty.
Atlanta Hawks Notable Players: Dejounte Murray, Trae Young, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter
It was just one season prior when the Atlanta Hawks led by Young were able to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Now add in an elite defender in Murray and things are looking up for the Hawks. Their overall lack of notable young players keeps them out of the dynasty tier.
Phoenix Suns Notable Players: Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges
The Suns are in win-now mode which makes it all the more impressive that three of their four best players are 25 and under, but not enough to launch them into the dynasty tier for me. A dominant last season for them showed them being dismantled by Luka Doncic in the Western Conference Semifinals. The big question going into the offseason was what they were going to do with Ayton and they were able to maintain him which gets them into the great tier.
New Orleans Pelicans Notable Players: Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado
Adding Alvarado on here might be a bit gracious but Ingram is a bonafide bucket-getter and how quickly we forget Williamson’s monster season the year before last where he averaged 27 points per game. Jones is a pest defensively and will give the opposing team’s best player trouble for years to come.
The Dynasty Tier
You will more than likely see a lot of these teams for years to come.
Memphis Grizzlies Notable Players: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ziaire Williams, Brandon Clarke
The Grizzlies were one of the NBA’s biggest surprises last season improving by 18 wins and with superstar Ja Morant leading the offense you can expect to see more of them near the top of the West. What was scary last year, during the regular season that is, was when Morant went down with an injury the team didn’t falter and maintained pace.
Boston Celtics Notable Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Grant Williams
Maybe Grant Williams doesn’t belong but the facts are that this team was just in the NBA Finals and I dare you to try and find a better duo under 25 than Brown and Tatum. After a slow start to the season, they completely flipped a switch in the second half lighting the Eastern Conference on fire.
Cleveland Cavaliers Notable Players: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro
I think the acquisition of Mitchell jumps the Cavs from the Great Tier into the Dynasty Tier. This team now has 3 All-Stars and is in the conversation for the best backcourt in the league.
Mitchell is a legit sharpshooter and I think he and Garland will mesh well. Mobley is legit a superstar in the making, and with all this talent around him, he can focus on what he is good at and bring elite rim protection to the team. Cavs 2024 NBA Champions….calling it here.
Do you agree with my tier rankings? The order of teams listed isn’t their rankings among the tier as I imagine they will be pretty fluid throughout the year.