After the Cleveland Cavaliers had a terrific regular season, finishing with 51 wins, and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2018, they flopped. Cleveland lost in their first round series to the New York Knicks 4-1 in a matchup where they were the higher seed, at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference.
It was a rough ending to what was a season filled with promise. Cleveland had the NBA’s second-best net rating in the regular season, and last offseason’s bold move for Donovan Mitchell gave the team one of the best perimeter scorers in the Association.
Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, their playoff run was not much of one, as evidenced by the Knicks dispatching them in five games.
The Cavs have plenty to build on from the 2022-23 campaign, and it was an important step for this team, which is still very young in some crucial areas. One would have to assume Koby Altman and company are going to be active this offseason in looking to upgrade this group, though, and helping out the bench and wing situation are the obvious plays at first glance there.
Even with that in mind, Cleveland does have a handful of guys who should fit the bill of “untouchable,” regarding possible trade movement status, but there’s some Cavs who clearly should be cut loose, whether it’s via trade or being let walk. Let’s examine both sides of that conversation here, starting with the untouchables.
Cavs untouchable No. 1: Evan Mobley
Not necessarily in a particular order as it pertains to the “untouchable” tag, Evan Mobley is a player who looks to just be getting started with the Cavaliers.
Mobley needs to improve as a shooter, and needs to show some stretch big capabilities ideally this next season for Cleveland. The three-point range is not there much from him yet, and over the offseason, Mobley making progress in tightening up his handle should be a point of emphasis for him to take the next step as a shot creator.
Those things aside, Mobley will be entering his age-22 season in 2023-24, and he’s only two seasons into his NBA career. This season, he had 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, and demonstrated tangible offensive growth. In the second half of the regular season, his assertive play offensively paid dividends for him and the team, and he got better and more comfortable as a passer.
Mobley underwhelmed offensively in Cleveland’s first round series loss to New York, similarly to others, but he’s only going to get better from here on that end, provided he puts the work in and can make strides in the aforementioned improvement areas. Him gradually getting stronger should make a difference, too, and it did more as the regular season wore on; he just has to take that a step further for playoff runs to come.
With Mobley’s wide-ranging defensive abilities also in mind, as a switchable big, rim protector and with his terrific basketball IQ, with what he has shown on offense, he has the highest ceiling of any player on the Cavaliers. It’s going to be on him to be able to put it all together, but from Cleveland’s perspective, he shouldn’t be going anywhere for a long time, and rest assured, needs to be eventually locked up long term.
Cavs untouchable No. 2: Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell didn’t have the playoff series, and run, rather he and the team were hoping for in 2023. Mitchell and the Cavaliers offense looked out of wack for much of the series against the Knicks, and his Game 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden didn’t lead to him having the homecoming he was hoping for.
In the last three games of the series versus the Knicks, Mitchell shot only five-of-24 (20.8 percent) from three-point range, and his true shooting clip was 45.9 percent. Mitchell had 15 assists in those games, and 18 rebounds and five steals, but he had 15 turnovers as well, and looked to be out of rhythm.
Despite the playoff disappointment and 2022 not being great in the postseason for the Utah Jazz, it’s difficult to know if the Cavaliers would’ve made the playoffs without trading for Mitchell last offseason, and he’s in his prime. Mitchell is still one of the game’s best guards, and one should expect him to bounce back in next year’s playoffs.
Mitchell’s shot creation, driving and playmaking abilities take pressure off of Darius Garland, and moving forward, Mitchell still should be a huge part of what the Cavs do on the floor and as a leader. He was an All-Star starter for a reason, and if the Cavaliers give Garland and Mitchell some shooting help this offseason, that should only validate the importance of both as passers and shot creators even more.
Cavs untouchable No. 3: Darius Garland
Darius Garland had an uneven series against the Knicks as well, which included a disastrous performance in Game 3 in Manhattan, when he went four-of-21 from the field and one-of-seven from three.
Having said that, Garland had a great Game 2, and his second half was outstanding in Game 4 to put the Cavaliers right back in that one.
In the past two seasons for the Cavs, Garland has established himself as one of the league’s best lead guards, and by and large, he’s the straw that stirs the drink for Cleveland offensively. Garland, in the same light as Mobley, is still so young as well, and as he gets more experience next year and beyond, he’ll only be better for it.
In his fourth season, Garland had 21.6 points, 7.8 assists and 1.2 steals per contest, and despite a rough span from deep to close the regular season, did still end that out hitting 41.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
With Garland’s continual strides made as a playmaker, multifaceted scorer and shooter, he’s such an invaluable player for this Wine and Gold team. And if the Cavaliers can add more shooting around Garland on the wing, he’ll be all the more dangerous as an offensive talent.
He has to be more consistent looking onward in the playoffs, but 23-year-olds of his ilk are difficult to come by, with his vision, handle, range, pick-and-roll play and shot creation versatility. He’s set to be locked up long term, and rightfully so.
One of four Cavs who should be cut loose: Isaac Okoro
Isaac Okoro is a quality defensive player in this league. He’s firmly established himself as such in the last two seasons for the Wine and Gold, and there plenty of positive signs from him in that aspect of the game as a rookie in 2020-21.
This isn’t suggesting Cleveland should be running Okoro out of town at the first opportunity, and there could be unlocked offensive potential for the Auburn product.
But, for the Cavs at this stage, as they aim to solidify themselves as Eastern Conference contenders, Cleveland shouldn’t be hesitant to potentially involve Okoro in trade discussions, especially with more offensively-polished wings in mind there.
Okoro did show growth signs offensively this season and in Year 2 as a catch-and-shoot/off-ball player, and in the 2023 portion of the regular season, he hit 44.1 percent of his three-point shot attempts.
Part of the problem is, though, Okoro attempted only 2.6 deep looks in that span, and while he can make some plays as a driver when attacking closeouts, he’s a ways from being a floor spacing and consistent offensive presence for Cleveland. One could see that in the regular season still, and in the playoffs versus New York.
With that being the reality, and Cleveland having others such as Lamar Stevens, Dean Wade and one could still foresee Caris LeVert to help defensively, and perhaps a couple of other external additions, it could be sensible for Cleveland to shop Okoro this offseason.
With him still having glaring offensive limitations, even with him only 22, it’s tough to say currently for it to be wise to eventually sign him long term, let alone extend Okoro this offseason.
The second of four Cavs who should be cut loose: Dylan Windler
Luck hasn’t been on the side of Dylan Windler in his time with the Cavaliers. Windler was a first-round pick back in 2019, and he’s had encouraging flashes with Cleveland, when he’s been available.
The problem has been just that: the lack of availability. Windler missed all of his rookie campaign because of a stress reaction in his lower left leg, played 31 games in his de facto rookie year, which was eventually cut short due to a knee injury, and this season, he appeared in just three games. An ankle sprain for the most part was the culprit there, and realistically, Windler probably wasn’t going to have much of a case for minutes, as the season moved along with the lack of rhythm.
Windler, as we mentioned, has had some quality performances for Cleveland, and defensively, did do solid work when he was given meaningful opportunities last season.
However, when the chances came for Windler last season, too often he seemed hesitant as a shooter, or was just not able to find a rhythm nearly enough to make a shooting impact. The minutes were spiractic, but he connected on 30.0 percent from three in 2021-22, and 33.8 percent from three in 2020-21.
While Windler might theoretically still be an impactful movement and generally, three-and-D presence, it’s difficult to foresee why Cleveland would extend him a qualifying offer of roughly $6 million this summer. He’s been active in 84 total games in four seasons.
He’ll be 27 next season, if he finds his way on an NBA roster. That shouldn’t be the Cavaliers, though.
The third Cav who should be cut loose: Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio was not a player who was going to playing at the same level as he had in his appearances with the Cavaliers in 2021-22. Then, Rubio gave the Wine and Gold a big-time boost in a move to a supersub-type role, in which he had 13.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest in his 34 appearances with Cleveland in that campaign.
Rubio’s then-expiring deal was traded to the Indiana Pacers in the Caris LeVert deal, and since, he returned via free agency last offseason, but it was going to take a considerable chunk of this season for him to be available. Rubio was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered near the end of 2021, and it was the second time he tore his ACL in that same left knee.
Needless to say, expectations had to be tempered for him this season, which was to be expected given the injury he was coming off of, and the circumstances, even more so.
This season, though, Rubio was simply not effective nearly enough when he was in action. He was active in 33 games, and in those contests, had 5.2 points and 3.5 assists in 17.2 minutes per appearance in the regular season.
He is still a great passer, and can help get others quality looks for stretches, however, he was way off the mark as a shooter, and looked unplayable in the playoffs against the Knicks. Rubio connected on just 25.6 percent of his three-point attempts in the regular season, and shot 34.3 percent overall.
He can still make a difference defensively, but Rubio being part of a package for a wing upgrade at this stage might be best for the Cavs. Granted, he definitely didn’t help his trade value in 2022-23; even with that, Rubio feasibly healthier next season could be a meaningful vet to have and his 2024-25 season is only partially-guaranteed for roughly $4.3 million.
In any case, Cleveland would be wise to try to move Rubio, who will be 33 next season, with maybe pieces such as Isaac Okoro and/or Cedi Osman and future second-round picks for wing depth or a more offensively viable backup lead guard.
The fourth Cav who should clearly be cut loose: Robin Lopez
Robin Lopez was added last offseason to seemingly fill in in some spurts to give Cleveland relief at the backup 5 spot. Recently prior to signing with Cleveland, Lopez had two decent years with the Washington Wizards in a reserve role, and despite playing minimally with the Orlando Magic the season before, he was alright in his chances then.
There weren’t a ton of opportunities this last go-round with the Cavaliers then for Lopez, either, but they were hardly inspiring minutes. Lopez just isn’t the defensive presence he used to be previously at other stops, and even with his hook shot touch, the mobility concerns with him are glaring and it’s hard to rationalize Cleveland possibly bringing him back next season.
Lopez is 35 and to his credit, just capped his 15th NBA season. He’s long been known as being a terrific locker room guy; for a backup 5 next season and onward, the Cavaliers just need more of an on-court presence there and ideally, plus athleticism.