Cavaliers depth chart after the 2023 NBA Draft and before free agency
Cavaliers’ depth chart of bigs
Similar to guard, the key players here are set in stone. While rumors have swirled around Jarrett Allen this summer, thus far the Cavaliers have rebuffed all offers. The plan as it stands is for the team to head into next season with their twin towers in place, Allen at center and rising star Evan Mobley at power forward. That could change if the right offer is made for Allen.
As far as players currently under contract, that’s as far as the list goes. Robin Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and not likely to return. Mamadi Diakite had a few moments last year but appears to be out of two-way eligibility and won’t be considered for a full contract. Isaiah Mobley will be back, but whether on the 15-man roster or one of the two-way deals is still an open question.
What’s coming: Even assuming Isaiah Mobley is in for a larger role next season, the Cavaliers will look to add at least one player to their big rotation. Look for a stretch big to be on their wish list, but they could also look for a shot-blocker instead (shopping on the minimum won’t net you both in one player).
Next. Bill Simmons pitches wild trade for Cavs to swap Allen for Suns star. dark
With the vast majority of minutes at center taken up by Allen and Mobley, the larger team-building question is whether the Cavs want to stay big all the time or play combo forwards as the backup 4s. If the latter, they’ve already got Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens on the roster. If the former, the possibility of adding a stretch-big like Georgis Niang or JaMychal Green makes sense.