Four key Cavaliers storylines ahead of 2021-22 season: Talented young core offers real reasons for optimism

The Cleveland Cavaliers made 4 straight NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018. Since then, nevertheless, the workforce hasn’t even sniffed the postseason after LeBron James departed for Los Angeles following the ’17-18 marketing campaign. Within the three seasons since James joined the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs completed 14th, fifteenth and thirteenth within the Japanese Convention standings. However whereas the previous few seasons have been tough for Cleveland followers, there are some actual causes for optimism shifting ahead. 

The workforce used the third total decide within the 2021 NBA Draft so as to add promising middle Evan Mobley out of USC. Mobley is a cell massive man who can knock down photographs and defend the paint on the opposite finish, and has the potential to be particular. Along with drafting Mobley, the Cavs additionally traded for sweet-shooting ahead Lauri Markkanen and veteran guard Ricky Rubio. Each gamers ought to present a lift to a Cleveland offense that has proven a propensity for stagnation. 

Issue within the continued progress and improvement of younger guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, and the Cavs have an opportunity to be higher than they’ve been since LeBron left. Nobody goes to mistake them for a real title contender, however you need to begin someplace. With that mentioned, here is a have a look at Cleveland’s roster and 4 key storylines to look at forward of the 2021-22 season. 

Cleveland Cavaliers roster  

1. All eyes on Evan Mobley 

The Cavs may have gone in a bunch of various instructions with the third total decide because the 2021 draft class was extensively thought of to be a deep one. They in the end went with Mobley, and for good cause. The workforce already has a pair of promising younger guards in Sexton and Garland, so it is smart that they’d need to even out the roster by including an enormous man to enhance these guards. If all three gamers are in a position to develop collectively and attain their potential, the Cavs may have a formidable inside-outside assault for the foreseeable future. 

Plus, Mobley has arguably the best ceiling in his complete draft class. How excessive is that ceiling? Anthony Davis-level excessive, based on CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger. Here is what he wrote about Mobley previous to the draft:

Cease me should you’ve heard this one earlier than. Each skinny, cell massive man who can shoot somewhat bit appears to be in comparison with Davis, however with Mobley the comparisons are apt — that’s, if he totally develops his burgeoning talent set. Mobley generally is a Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate whereas offering unimaginable versatility offensively with ball-handling and taking pictures for his dimension. When individuals speak about Mobley as the very best participant within the class, they most likely see a Davis-like future for him.

Given the present state of the Cavs, Mobley ought to see ample on-court alternative immediately. And whereas nobody is anticipating Mobley to morph into Davis throughout his rookie marketing campaign, individuals — particularly these in Cleveland — will definitely be searching for indicators of superstardom. As such, Mobley’s play can be a central storyline in Cleveland’s upcoming marketing campaign. 

2. The continued improvement of Sexton and Garland 

Along with Mobley, the way forward for the Cavs additionally hinges on the continued improvement of Sexton and Garland. Thus, each gamers can be anticipated to take a step ahead this season.

Sexton is getting into his fourth season within the league, and he is coming of his greatest yr as a professional. He averaged 24.3 factors, 4.4 assists and three.1 rebounds per efficiency final season, and infrequently appeared loads like a future All-Star within the course of. Nearly as good as he performed although, he nonetheless has some apparent areas of enchancment. His assist-to-turnover ratio from final season (4.4 to 2.8) may very well be higher, and as a profession 45 p.c shooter from the ground, he may enhance his effectivity as properly. If Sexton can proceed to enhance in these areas, he may rapidly set up himself as one of many higher guards within the Japanese Convention. 

Garland is an identical story. He is coming off a stable sophomore season the place he averaged 17.4 factors, 6.1 assists and a pair of.4 rebounds per sport whereas taking pictures 39 p.c from lengthy vary. Like Sexton, he would profit from chopping again on turnovers (he averaged three a sport final season), whereas additionally persevering with to develop defensively. If each gamers proceed to maneuver in the correct course the long run can be vibrant for Cleveland. 

3. A diminished position for Kevin Love 

With a roster comprised largely of younger expertise that is not fairly able to contend, the Cavs are clearly nonetheless within the midst of a rebuild that started when James departed in 2018. Given the truth that Kevin Love is 32 and thus does not actually match into the franchise’s future timeline, many thought the veteran ahead can be desperate to comply with a buyout on the remaining two years of his contract with the Cavs in order that he may proceed his profession elsewhere and doubtlessly compete for a title whereas he nonetheless has some air in his tires.

That is not the case, although. Love, who has two years and $60 million remaining on his contract, is reportedly not interested in a buyout in any respect. Love would doubtlessly be serious about a commerce from Cleveland, as that will permit him to hold his present contract over to a brand new workforce. Nevertheless, the Cavs clearly have not discovered any offers that they like up so far. Given his age, harm historical past and the scale of his contract, the commerce marketplace for Love may be very low, and the Cavs aren’t serious about buying and selling away a further asset simply to maneuver Love.

Maybe a commerce will come to fruition in the course of the season. However for now, Love stays on Cleveland’s roster, although his position shifting ahead will seemingly be restricted. The Cavaliers need to be certain their younger guys — like Mobley, Markkanen and Jarrett Allen — get ample on-court alternative, and as such the workforce has already spoken to Love about having a diminished position shifting ahead, based on Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. Love has began in each sport that he has performed since becoming a member of the Cavs in 2014, however maybe a shift to a reserve position is within the playing cards. 

The Cavaliers had been constantly talked about as a possible touchdown spot for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons over the offseason. In reality, simply final week it was reported the Cavs were still actively trying to acquire Simmons. So, when discussing Cleveland’s upcoming marketing campaign, the likelihood that they commerce for Simmons must be addressed.  

The Sixers have maintained a particularly steep asking value for Simmons, but it surely’s potential that their asking value will drop as the beginning of the season attracts nearer, particularly since Simmons has threatened to skip coaching camp. At that time maybe the Cavs can capitalize and make a deal. Here is CBS Sports activities’ Sam Quinn on what the Cavs may doubtlessly provide Philadelphia in a Simmons swap:

Cleveland has management over all of its first-round picks, so in concept it may provide Philadelphia a package deal of picks much like what Brooklyn gave up for James Harden (although whether or not Simmons warrants such a haul is one other query). In Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, Cleveland has two younger gamers with All-Star potential. One — seemingly Sexton given Cleveland’s obvious disinterest in giving him a long-term extension and Garland sharing an company with Simmons in Klutch Sports activities — may go to Philadelphia with out depriving the Cavaliers of a extra conventional guard.

A Simmons commerce may additionally function an answer to Cleveland’s Kevin Love downside… The Cavs would wish to ship out a large chunk of wage to match cash in a Simmons deal, and together with Love may get him to a profitable workforce with out him having to make a monetary sacrifice. Throw in different younger gamers equivalent to Isaac Okoro and Cleveland has the entire items it must make a aggressive provide for Simmons. 

At this level, a Simmons commerce looks like an inevitability. Nevertheless, there are different groups within the younger star, so there isn’t any assure that he’ll find yourself in a Cavaliers uniform. Nonetheless, the likelihood is actually one thing value preserving in thoughts.