3 goals for the Cleveland Cavaliers 2023 offseason

The Cavs’ primary offseason need: Find a starting SF

This final goal might be directly related to adding shooters, but Cleveland’s primary need this offseason is solidifying the starting small forward position.

Looking at the current roster, the wing position has quite a few candidates in LeVert, Okoro, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, Osman, Danny Green, and Sam Merrill. None of these players seem to meet every need Cleveland has when slotted into the starting five. Each player has a glimpse of that key element, but nobody has managed to lockdown that role. In fact, LeVert has become in a sense the backup guard for Cleveland, often even serving as the secondary point guard.

As much as it hurts, then, it is time to let some of these players go. The wing spot is cluttered but is still the biggest weakness for the Cavaliers. The most obvious choices are Okoro and Wade, as they are young with potential to improve, meaning they could be sent in a package together for a proven veteran small forward.

Regardless of how the player is acquired, there is no question that the Cavaliers cannot run it back next season with so much uncertainty at the three spot. For nearly a decade (not all consecutive), Cleveland never questioned who would start at small forward with LeBron James leading the team. In this new era, that position has become their largest question mark.

As of now, Cleveland fans have no reason to doubt President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman’s ability to find that final puzzle piece; he finished second in Executive of the Year voting for the 2022-23 campaign. He has been patient and allowed players to prove themselves, but he has also been decisive when he realizes the path to take.

Be hopeful, because there is a lot of good coming to the Cleveland Cavaliers. These three goals could catapult this team to the top of the Eastern Conference, assuming that they are met and put into motion properly by Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff.