The NBA Playoffs are always filled with unlikely heroes. Nobody ever knows which role players are going to step up when the lights are brightest and make key plays down the stretch. In 2007, the league saw Daniel “Boobie” Gibson get hot from deep and help lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals.
During the 2015 NBA Finals, Matthew Dellavedova stepped up in a big way doing everything he could to slow down the reigning MVP Steph Curry. There is no question that the Cavaliers are going to need players outside of their starting five to step up and make key contributions to this series.
The Cavaliers addressed their depth issues in the offseason and hope to have a much stronger bench for this playoff stretch. For one, they lacked shooting and had troubles creating space for their offensive stars. Last summer the Cavaliers signed Max Strus and Georges Niang, two playoff experienced veterans who are proven three point shooters.
The Cavs also unexpectedly ran into a rebounding and toughness issue last year in the playoffs. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are tall and athletic, but they have a hard time dealing with more strong and physical rebounders, especially when they raise their intensity and efforts in the playoffs. The Cavaliers made a couple signings to hopefully improve their rebounding and toughness, bringing in Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris (who joined mid-season).
With all these acquisitions, the Cavaliers have an improved bench and many different lineups that they can experiment with in the playoffs. It is unclear at the moment which bench players are going to receive an increase in their minutes or could see their playing time diminish. Bickerstaff will likely have to make big rotation decisions on the fly, seeing which players are rising to the occasion and which players seem to be fading away. Let’s take a look at three bench players on the Cavs that could unexpectedly swing the entire first round series against the Magic.
1. Caris LeVert
Caris LeVert may come off the bench, but he is the Cavaliers third-best playmaker. LeVert has settled in well to the sixth-man role, averaging 14 points and 5.1 assists per game. With LeVert being someone who is best with the ball in his hands, it was a natural decision to have him play with the second unit rather than trying to share the court with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.
If Garland or Mitchell struggle to find an offensive rhythm this series, the Cavaliers will be heavily relying on Caris LeVert to help bring the offense alive off the bench. LeVert had a great season, helping keep the Cavs afloat during all their injuries this season, specifically their backcourt of Garland and Mitchell. While he can fall into cold spells at times, his innate confidence and tough shotmaking elevates Cleveland's offense in tight moments.
Last year against the Knicks in the playoffs, LeVert showed that he is a legitimate playmaker during high-stakes games. Often bench players are efficient scorers in the regular season but then cannot handle it when the defenses raise their intensity in the playoffs. LeVert averaged 15 points per game in the 2023 playoffs and jumped out on screen as one of the few Cavaliers who seemed ready for the moment.
Caris LeVert can drastically change the series with his potential off the bench. If LeVert is able to catch fire for a game or two, it could swing those games and the series entirely.
2. Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson will be a “Break in case of emergency” player for the Cavaliers in their first round, but he might be the perfect solution for Orlando's tough interior presence. Cavalier fans are hoping Mobley and Allen will prove they are up to the task and can keep the Orlando frontcourt from changing the series with offensive rebounds and tough interior play. Still, if they get pushed around again, the Cavaliers will likely look to their 33-year-old veteran Thompson to get in there and save the Cavs.
The Cavaliers signed Tristan Thompson last summer in a move that clearly addressed the rebounding issues they faced against the Knicks. Cleveland gave up the most offensive rebounds per game last postseason of any competing team. It is unclear how much Tristan is going to play in this series against Orlando, but the backup option will be there. He is much more limited offensively than other big men like Mobley, Allen and Niang, but there is one thing he can consistently do at a high level -rebound.
His minutes will likely depend on how the games look and if the Cavs need to bring in a big body. Thompson surprised everybody with his performance this regular season, battling physically down low and fighting over bigger, younger players. It looked as though his playing days might be over, but he looked strong and athletic in the paint with his former team. The Cavs have yet to deploy Thompson since his 25-game suspension. He may not be as playoff-ready as it seemed earlier this season, but Cleveland can still utilize his broad frame and innate strength.
Nonetheless, if Thompson’s number is called against Orlando, he could save the Cavaliers’ season with his physical and tough rebounding.
3. Sam Merrill
The Cavaliers stumbled upon a wonderful surprise this season, and that is the electric shooting of Sam Merrill. Merrill had only appeared in 41 games in his first three seasons (two with the Bucks, one with the Cavs). But this season the Cavs gave him a chance with some real minutes, and he proved to be a hidden gem. In only 17.5 minutes a game, Merrill averaged 2.3 three pointers a game on 40% from behind the arc.
Having a dead eye three point shooter has proven to be a huge advantage in the playoffs. The Cavaliers feasted on the hot shooting of J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver and Channing Frye during their four straight NBA Finals appearances. If the offense seems to be struggling to make shots, they might call on Merrill to play more minutes and revive the offense with his endless release.
With Merrill’s ability to shoot from the outside at a high volume, he could swing whole games in the Cavs favor and ultimately change the series outcome. Throughout Cleveland's dominant winter stretch, Merrill lit up the sky with triple after triple finding the bottom of the net alongside Donovan Mitchell's MVP-esque passing and brilliance. For the Cavs to reach their fullest potential, they must maximize a player like Merrill.
Every Cleveland Cavalier that sees the court will be incredibly valuable and could make big contributions for the team. Georges Niang and Isaac Okoro will also be playing a lot of minutes of the bench as criticial pieces to the Cavs' success. The three players listed above have the potential to push the Cavaliers over the Magic in ways that they desperately need.