The NBA offseason is not a quiet time. From the NBA Draft and Free Agency to blockbuster trades and plenty of drama, there is always something going on. Yet for all of the craziness, eventually it has to come to an end. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, that will happen on Monday, September 26th.
The Cavs kick of their 2022-23 season with Media Day, when all of the players and team personnel will be cycling through answering questions from media. While the Cavs did have a special media appearance recently to formally announce the Donovan Mitchell trade, for most players this is their first true public statement all offseason.
The Cavs officially kick off their 2022-23 season with their annual Media Day. What burning questions do we hope to get answered on Monday?
While there will be a lot of words spoken and information shared, there are a few specific questions that Cavs fans are burning to get an answer to. Some of them center on the biggest trade in recent Cavaliers history and how the trade return was landed on. Others are about the roster moving forward and how head coach J.B. Bickerstaff plans to deploy them.
With Media Day coming up tomorrow, here is a preview of the three biggest questions that will hopefully be answered by the Cavs.
3 burning questions for Cavs Media Day: Why trade Lauri Markkanen?
The Cleveland Cavaliers did a three-for-one swap earlier this month when they traded Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and Collin Sexton (the latter as a sign-and-trade participant) to the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell. That stacking of players was necessary in order to match Mitchell’s salary; it’s called “aggregation” and was necessary no matter which players the Cavs sent back.
Sexton being a part of the deal was a given; the Cavs needed to move him, the Jazz have been reportedly interested in him for a long time, and he signed for a strong salary amount. Likewise, Ochai Agbaji as this year’s rookie selection was always going to be in the deal as the Jazz collect young talent.
The question is whether Lauri Markkanen had to be a part of the trade. Why not Caris LeVert? For the Cavs, the addition of Mitchell made LeVert that much more redundant on this team, while Markkanen played a clear role and could have continued to start at small forward.
Did the Cavs move Markkanen because they wanted the salary cap flexibility next summer? That seems unlikely given that they have already agreed to a contract extension &#$#(#@*$ with Dean Wade, something they likely don’t do with serious cap space designs for next summer.
Was it therefore the Jazz demanding that Markkanen, not LeVert, be included in the trade? He is under contract for another two seasons longer than LeVert, which may be meaningful if the Jazz want to keep him around. If he is just another flotsam veteran contract to flip, would LeVert have been more valuable?
Keeping Markkanen would have given the Cavs a boost, and given his dominant play in EuroBasket 2022 would have afforded them a solid piece to keep in the second ring of their core. If it took a second-round pick to make it LeVert in the deal instead, should the Cavs have paid it? Hopefully Koby Altman speaks to why Markkanen was in the trade.
3 burning questions for Cavs Media Day: Who will be 5th starter?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are locked into four of their five starters heading into the 2022-23 NBA season. The lineup currently looks something like this:
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: OPEN
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen
That was a similar problem to what the Cavs faced last offseason, with Collin Sexton in place of Mitchell at the 2. J.B. Bickerstaff surprised the NBA world when he tabbed the seven-foot Lauri Markkanen to start, but that decision worked out very well and starting groups with Markkanen at the 3 were very strong.
Lauri is now in Utah, and the Cavs once again have to solve the open dilemma. Isaac Okoro started at small forward two years ago. Caris LeVert has the most pedigree and was acquired at a substantial cost by this front office. Dean Wade is newly-extended and an excellent glue guy. Kevin Love could start and move Mobley up to the 3.
All of these are options, and it’s likely Bickerstaff hasn’t decided who will ultimately get the nod. On his recent pod previewing the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season (subscription required) with Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, basketball analyst Nate Duncan suggested the spot stay fluid, with the coaching staff starting a different player each game based on matchups. Fedor, perhaps the most plugged-in Cavs reporter out there, thinks Okoro will get the first stab.
Given the defensive shortcomings of the starting backcourt, whoever starts at the 3 will need to be ready defensively. If LeVert shows that ability in training camp and preseason, perhaps he can earn the nod, but Okoro seems like a reasonable first guess for now. Does Bickerstaff give us any specific information on Media Day?
3 burning questions for Cavs Media Day: Is anyone else signing extensions?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have four players eligible for a contract extension, after agreeing to a deal with Dean Wade on Saturday evening. That move, although for a modest $18.5 million total over three seasons, signaled that the Cavs are not fighting to hold open cap space for next summer.
If that is the case, then other extensions become much more likely if the Cavs decide they want that player around. The question then becomes who they see as a part of the team’s long-term future, and who is willing to accept the number offered in an extension.
Kevin Love could agree to an extension starting at a much lower number than his current $29 million, ensuring the franchise icon is around to continue overseeing a potent bench attack. He is unlikely to have a huge market next summer and seemed to enjoy his fit on the Cavs a year ago, and locking up now would mitigate injury risk for himself. Are the Cavs interested?
The other big name is Caris LeVert. After moving a first-round pick and a premium second for LeVert at February’s NBA Trade Deadline, the former Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers guard is on an expiring contract this year. Do the Cavs see a long-term role for him with Donovan Mitchell now entrenched as the second backcourt starter?
Finally, both Dylan Windler and Lamar Stevens are technically up for extensions. Neither seems likely. Windler has proven very little in his career and will be a restricted free agent next summer if he does show any pop, while Stevens has clearly fallen behind Dean Wade in the pecking order.
Are the Cavs in discussions with any of these players for extensions? Are any conversations being prioritized? The Cavs already locked down Darius Garland to a max rookie extension, so the most important deal is done. Do any other players officially hitch their wagons to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the season begins?