With the most recent Cleveland Cavaliers‘ trade for guard Donovan Mitchell, formerly of the Utah Jazz, the Cavaliers have one of the most formidable rosters on paper in the entire NBA.
With a team that has 3 2021-22 season All-Stars (Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen), Cleveland looks to build upon an already solid season. Also, the only other team that had 3 All-Stars last season was none other than the NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, with All-Stars of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins.
With the next season a bit over a month away, and even preseason starting at the end of this month, most NBA fans cannot wait for the season to start, and personally, I cannot wait either. Next season looks to be a very exciting season, with new faces on new teams and a very talented rookie class incoming, there is much to be excited about as a fan of the Association.
Anyway, with the Cavaliers acquiring another All-Star to their roster, they should be able to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, considering their roster makeup. How Donovan Mitchell will play with the other Cavs’ players will remain to be seen, and how he plays can really determine how this season will go for Cleveland.
All of that said, here are my opinions on what the best and worst-case scenarios for the Cavaliers would be for the next season ahead. We’ll first begin with what would qualify as the best-case for Cleveland in 2022-23.
Cavs best-case scenario: Making the Eastern Conference Finals
Before the Cavaliers even acquired Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland announced on a podcast that he believed that Cleveland could make the Eastern Conference Finals, which would have been a great feat, considering the roster missed the playoffs last season. However, now with Mitchell on the team, the chances to make the Eastern Conference Finals should be even greater.
Last season, when Garland was off the floor, Cleveland’s offense wasn’t too great. The Cavs seemingly went into the offseason looking for someone who could create their own shot, and the Cavaliers managed to get one of the best players able to do that in Mitchell.
Defensively, the team was one of the best in the league last season, ranking 5th in defensive rating. The four teams ahead of the Cavaliers either were the first seed in their conference (the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat) or made the NBA Finals (Golden State and the Boston Celtics).
Obviously I have to mention the horse in the room. Donovan Mitchell is not, and never has been, the best defender. With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt, the defense could struggle, considering neither of the players are known to clamp up offensive players. But, with Isaac Okoro potentially, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen in the other starting positions, the Cavs could still be able to be solid defensively, even with Garland and Mitchell on the court.
Let’s look at this roster for a second. Like I mentioned, the Cavs have 3 All-Stars from last season on their roster, and have a player who can be an All-Star sooner rather than later in Evan Mobley. Their bench is not a weak point, either.
The Cavs had Kevin Love, who finished in 2nd place in 6th Man of the Year voting, Caris LeVert, and Ricky Rubio, one of the league’s best playmakers, off the bench; that’s when Rubio is healthy, in fairness. This roster is talented enough to be able to make the ECF, in my opinion, though.
Cavs worst-case scenario: Play-in team
Let’s just assume the worst happens here. Last season, the Cavaliers were often plagued with injuries, and were forced to start players that normally they wouldn’t put in the starting lineup. Potentially, that could happen again. Kevin Love has never been known as someone to play all 82 regular season games, and obviously, injuries happen, whether you like it or not. If a major injury happens, then the team will probably struggle and have a worse chance of getting a favorable seed in the playoffs.
Also, let’s assume that Okoro, Mobley, and Allen can’t cover all of Garland’s and Mitchell’s defensive liabilities, and the team really struggles on the other side of the ball. Sure, their offense shouldn’t be a problem, but like the saying goes, defense wins championships, and the Cavs can’t win a chip without having their team be a capable defensive team.
Last, let’s assume Evan Mobley does not take the leap that most people expect he will. Maybe his progression plateaus and he does not become the All-Star talent most think he will be in a few years. If all of these problems occur, then it could be a possibility that Cleveland is in a similar position from last season, in the play-in tournament.
Do I really believe this will happen? No, not really, but you never know what could happen. I doubt a lot of people expected the Brooklyn Nets to be in the play-in last season, considering their star-studded roster at the start of last season, but it happened. Like I said, you never truly know what will happen.
There are many questions that have to remain unanswered until the season starts. How will Garland and Mitchell fit together? Will the spacing be fine with Okoro possibly, Mobley, and Allen? Will Mobley take a leap and become an All-Star in the next few years?
All of these questions can and will be answered soon enough, Cavaliers fans, but until then, we just have to wait.