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In

^{Lonzo Ball (PG)
Thomas Bryant (C)
Larry Nance Jr. (C)}

Rookies

• Tyrese Proctor (PG) – Pick #49

Out

^{Isaac Okoro (SG)
Ty Jerome (SG)
Emoni Bates (SF)
Javonte Green (SG)
Chuma Okeke (PF)
Tristan Thompson (C)}

Depth Chart

PG – Darius Garland
SG – Donovan Mitchell
SF – De’Andre Hunter / Max Strus (currently injured)
F – Evan Mobley
C – Jarrett Allen
6th Man – Lonzo Ball
Rotation players – Sam Merrill / Dean Wade / Larry Nance Jr. / Thomas Bryant / Craig Porter Jr.

^{Cleveland Cavaliers Profile}

Team Ceiling

NBA Championship – The Cavs need to aim to the Larry O’Brien trophy. They showed everyone what they were capable of last year. They should have absorbed that experience and they will need to apply it this year.

Team Floor

2nd round – As last year, unless there are major surprises regarding injuries or anything related, they should make it to the Playoffs easily. The 1st round can’t be their floor, but depending on who they face in the 2nd round we could see some upset again.

X-Factor

Evan Mobley – The reigning DPOY has also proved to start becoming better offensively, shooting 2 more 3PT per game with the same efficiency. If the Cavs want to compete against the Knicks, which is their biggest rival this year, they need him to become a two-way threat on both ends of the floor. The Cavs success will mostly depend on Mobley’s performance during their playoff run.

Bust

Darius Garland – After trying to trade him in the offseason, here is Garland again. He’s not bad, it’s just not made for this team. Maybe his ties to the Cavs because of being drafted there are strong, but it’s probably time to move on. He’s not realiable, lacks physicality to help the team defensively… But he’s still a great scorer and passer and can help the Cavs win. Not a bust, but a coin toss this year for Cleveland.

Dark Horse

De’Andre Hunter – He arrived late last year and quickly proved what he can bring to this team. A power bust coming off the bench, with the ability to score and defend. It’s hist time to shine with the Cavs, where he will probably be a starter during these first months now that Strus is injured.

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With a shorter rotation than last year with Okoro, Ty Jerome and others leaving during the last season, they face again the challenge of reaching the NBA Finals. Some rotation players such as Wade, Merrill and the two new rotation centers Nance Jr. and Bryant will absorb more minutes. In the meantime Kenny Atkinson will explore new options that he can use through the season.

Garland’s contract is slowly ending and many say that this year is key for the Cavs to decide what to do with him in the future. There’s a lot of criticism regarding Garland’s defensive abilities. For me, it’s not his ability, but his strength and size which makes him a poor defender. But that’s were Lonzo Ball comes into play. He isn’t a pure defender, but defends much better than Garland preserving his playmaking. Let’s see if he fits the team in this terms, while allowing Garland to be a great scorer as he is.

Their main goal should be reaching the NBA Finals and fans are not going to expect less. I’m sure Atkinson will find ways of lengthen this short rotation during the season. Now that last year they proved they can be a great team in regular season and that their playoff spot is almost secured because of the East situation, they need to focus in post-season as soon as they secure their place. Otherwise, they will need to make some serious changes if they aspire to win a championship again.