Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were a regular season success story, going from a Play-In team to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They had no serious expectations last season, meaning that each of their 51 wins were an exciting moment to witness.
Every team ahead of them in the standings were considered the top contenders in the East. The Cavaliers had undeniable growth, though it was squandered in the first round to the New York Knicks.
Entering next season, the Cavaliers now have a standard of success they have to meet. In free agency, they addressed 3-point shooting and depth. With an improved roster, the expectations are an improved end to the season, especially the postseason. The team is young, hungry, and still growing. There is little reason to believe the Cavs are incapable of eclipsing their prior success, but their recent growth will put a harsher spotlight on them in the coming season.
Another playoff failure would be a devastating blow to a fringe contender such as Cleveland. Reaching the Eastern Conference Finals is a legitimate possibility, considering the offseason changes (or lack thereof) from their conference rivals.
While Milwaukee kept their core intact, they made little changes elsewhere. The Boston Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis but lost Marcus Smart in the process. Speaking of a process, the Philadelphia 76ers are at the point of losing the entire process. There is no excuse for the Cavaliers not to build upon last season and achieve well beyond their short five-game playoff appearance.
If the Cavaliers want to succeed expectations, they need to avoid these possible disasters.
As with any aspiring contender, a season filled with disaster could cause a sudden end to their journey. This season will be critical for the Cavaliers, as head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will have the most options for floor spacing yet alongside Evan Mobley’s assumed continued development.
The Cavaliers have plenty of opportunities for success this season, but they also face a number of paths to failure. From coaching blunders to player misfortune, these three disasters could derail Cleveland’s very own “process” toward another NBA Finals run.
The Cavs cannot afford to fail to integrate their newest additions
The Cavaliers had an active summer, adding some of the league’s best spot-up shooters in Max Strus and Georges Niang. Additionally, they signed 6-foot-5 combo guard Ty Jerome on a team-friendly contract before trading for big man Damian Jones from the Jazz.
There is no certainty on how many minutes each of these players will have per game, though Strus seems to be a guarantee to fulfill a significant portion of wing minutes. Whether or not the newest Cavs see the court consistently, it will be on Bickerstaff and his coaching staff to make the most of their talents.
Last season, the Cavaliers were ranked 12th in 3-point percentage among all 30 teams, although they had two premier backcourt shooters in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Garland was ranked in the 86th percentile for 3-point percentage among point guards, while Mitchell was ranked in the 77th percentile for combo guards, per Cleaning the Glass (subscription required).
Much of the Cavaliers’ success from beyond the arc came exclusively from their backcourt duo, while the rest of the team struggled to consistently connect on long range attempts. Their offensive schemes grew stagnant, often relying on high pick-and-rolls to create repetitive gameplans.
Although Cleveland still needs to answer some big questions this season, their free agency efforts have seemingly addressed their desperate need for 3-point threats. Should Bickerstaff continue his subpar offensive agendas, Strus and Niang’s long range versatility will be nullified by inefficient strategies, leading to another disappointing playoff appearance.
As the Cavs near ever closer to the NBA luxury tax threshold, failing to utilize every player’s strengths will be detrimental to Cleveland’s future. The key to their success will be in the coach’s hands, which may prove to be a cause for celebration or serious concern.
If next season has an equally middle ground offense, this could quickly lead into the second possible disaster next season.
Making an ill-advised panic trade could ruin the Cavaliers season
Following their unfortunate postseason exit, some Cavaliers were constantly featured in trade rumors. With the pressure for success rising, early season trials could convince Cleveland’s front office to ship off their talent for worse returns.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has seen his name in trade proposals all summer due to his poor showing in the playoffs and overall concerns of long-term fit next to Evan Mobley. If the Cavaliers look to in-season trades as a solution, Allen will probably see his name on the trade block once again.
Though nearly every team would have reason to want Allen on their team, the return for Allen could be less than inspiring, leading to a worse outcome for the Cavaliers than a patient approach would yield.
Secondly, Caris LeVert’s inconsistent role with Cleveland might continue if the Cavs prioritize integrating their summer acquisitions over properly valuing LeVert’s skill set. His roughly $16 million salary next season could be a worthy trade piece but could easily ruin Cleveland’s growth with the wrong deal.
A poor open to the season cannot lead to panic trades. If the Cavs were able to find the right trade package for Allen’s value, they likely would have found it this summer. Building a championship roster will take time, and impatient trades would ruin the improvements already made.
Finally, the overall mismanagement of the roster, both in coaching and trades, could lead to the worst disaster the Cavaliers could (but do not have to) face this season.
The Cavaliers need to show Donovan Mitchell they are committed to him
Since Donovan Mitchell’s trade to the Cavaliers, the only confirmed news regarding Mitchell’s time in Cleveland suggests he is happy in the Land. The only suggestion that Cleveland’s star guard plans to force his way to New York comes from unsubstantiated rumors from media analysts such as Tim Bontemps, or recently, Garrett “G Bush” Bush.
Current discussions are no more than opinions. Mitchell has not spoken disparagingly of the Cavaliers. Rather, he has sung praises of the team and city. His first season in Cleveland earned Mitchell a career-high of 28.3 points per game and 57.2 efficient field goal percentage. Additionally, earning his first All-NBA Second Team selection suggests the Cavs are the best current option for Mitchell’s prime seasons.
While the current state of the Cavaliers will give Mitchell ample opportunity to succeed, poor team management and immature panic trades could culminate in Mitchell ultimately deciding to follow the path so many biased commentators have paved. The Cavs know the importance this season holds, and their offseason moves could elevate the roster into true contention. But, nothing is guaranteed.
Any of these disasters could come to fruition, but all are equally avoidable. This season will test the team’s resolve, both for players and for management.