- The Cleveland Cavaliers won 51 games last season and were the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference
- The Cavaliers were upset by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games
- Can the Cavaliers make it to the second round next season?
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a special regular season in 2022-23, winning 51 games and making the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Donovan Mitchell trade paid huge dividends for the Cavaliers, who were the fourth seed in the East.Â
Unfortunately for Cleveland, the team got upset by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five quick games. Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Caris LeVert were the only players who averaged over 10.0 points in the Knicks series.Â
Next season is a critical campaign for the Cavaliers. It’s possible big changes could be made by the front office if the squad doesn’t make it to the second round. For that to happen, the starters will have to play high-level basketball in the regular season and playoffs.
Point Guards
Starter: Darius Garland
Reserve:Â Ty Jerome
Darius Garland put up 21.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game last season for the Cavaliers while shooting 46.2% overall, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line. The 23-year-old signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with Cleveland in July 2022.
Against the Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, Garland averaged 20.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He shot 43.8% from the field, 38.7% from 3, and 84.0% from the foul line.Â
After getting a taste of the playoffs last season, the Cavaliers should be motivated to get to the second round next year. Garland, who made the All-Star team in 2022, will likely have to play at an All-NBA level for Cleveland to become a title contender. It will be fascinating to see if the talented guard can achieve that goal.Â
Shooting Guards
Starter: Donovan Mitchell
Reserve:Â Isaac Okoro
Donovan Mitchell is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season for the Cavaliers while shooting 48.4% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
In November 2020, Mitchell signed a lucrative five-year, $163 million rookie-scale extension with the Utah Jazz. The 27-year-old will make $32.6 million next season and $34.8 million in 2024-25.Â
Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in 2025 if he declines his 2025-26 player option worth $37.1 million, so that is something to monitor moving forward.Â
Mitchell thought he was going to get traded to the Knicks last offseason. However, the All-Star got dealt to the Cavaliers instead. Mitchell was born and raised in New York. Two of his friends, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, play for the Knicks.Â
If the Cavaliers don’t advance past the first round of the playoffs next season, don’t be surprised if the Mitchell-to-Knicks rumors heat up once again.
Small Forwards
Starter: Max Strus
Reserve: Caris LeVert
Max Strus averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Miami Heat last season while shooting 41.0% from the field, 35.0% from beyond the arc, and 87.6% from the free-throw line. The Illinois native made 197 3-pointers, which ranked 21st in the NBA.
Strus signed a four-year, $62.3 million deal with the Cavaliers this offseason as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Heat. His shooting ability should create more driving lanes for Mitchell and Garland.
It will be interesting to see how Strus plays as a full-time starter. Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff can always start Caris LeVert over Strus if the latter struggles.Â
LeVert averaged 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season while shooting 43.1% from the field, 39.2% from 3, and 72.2% from the free-throw line in 74 games. He re-signed with the Cavaliers this offseason on a two-year, $32 million contract.
Power Forwards
Starter: Evan Mobley
Reserves: Georges Niang, Dean Wade
Evan Mobley has star potential for the Cavaliers. He made the 2021-22 All-Rookie Team and the 2022-23 All-Defensive First Team. Sure, Mobley struggled against the Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, averaging only 9.8 points. However, the youngster is only 22. His best days are ahead of him.Â
Mobley averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks last season while shooting 55.4% from the floor and 67.4% from the free-throw line. The USC product recorded 24 double-doubles in 79 starts. He’s only going to get stronger and more polished offensively moving forward.Â
It will be intriguing to see if Mobley makes his first All-Star team next season. Teams generally need three stars to make serious noise in the playoffs in today’s NBA. The Cavaliers already have two bonafide stars in Mitchell and Garland. Only time will tell if Mobley can join those ranks soon.Â
Centers
Starter: Jarrett Allen
Reserve: Damian Jones
Jarrett Allen did not play well in the first round of the 2023 playoffs against the Knicks. The Texas product averaged 9.4 points and 7.4 rebounds and registered a negative plus-minus rating in Games 3, 4, and 5.
However, the Cavaliers are still high on Allen, who averaged 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks last season while shooting 64.4% from the field and 73.3% from the free-throw line. The center signed a five-year, $100 million contract with Cleveland in August 2021.
The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans tried to trade for Allen this offseason. The Cavaliers told the Mavericks and Pelicans that Allen was not available in trade talks.Â
Allen has career averages of 12.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks with the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers. He was the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 draft and is only 25 years old. It would have been foolish for the Cavaliers to trade him this offseason.Â
Assuming Cleveland makes the playoffs next season, though, if Allen struggles in the postseason again, then the front office should look to trade him in the summer of 2024.
