Cleveland Cavaliers Rotation Preview

By Avi Carr-Gloth and Brooke Young

G - Guard

F - Forward

C- Center

Cavs rookie Isaac Okoro has impressed so far throughout the preseason. (Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports)

After finishing with the third worst record last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to enjoy their first successful season since the departure of LeBron James. After going 19-46 last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers picked 5th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft where they finished the night with Isaac Okoro, the small forward out of Auburn. Now with his first offseason as Head Coach, J.B. Bickerstaff will hope to find the same success that his team had enjoyed for nearly half of the last decade. Lets take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers roster heading into the season and what we can expect from the players and staff.

Kevin Love - F/C

Your average NBA fan probably didn’t think Love had a great season last year. However, the numbers may tell a different story. Love has been a staple in Cleveland since 2014, and while his season may not have been perfect, the numbers provide hope for Cleveland’s upcoming season. Last season was Love’s second most-scoring effective, with a true shooting percentage of 59.9% along with a commanding use of the mid-range shot, between 16 feet and the 3-point-line accuracy coming in at 46.7%. A cultural staple and reliable player, the Cavs should hope for scoring comparable to last year from Love.

Andre Drummond - C

The league’s leading rebounder last year, Drummond was acquired by the Cavs for very little considering his status as a recent All-Star. Questions surround his potential long-term fit with the team’s young nucleus. For now, he’ll be counted on to be a consistent defensive presence down low for a team with recent defensive issues.

Collin Sexton - G

Sexton has been cited as one of the most improved rookies of the 2018 NBA Class. With the Jordan Clarkson trade, he began to flourish. He averaged 23.3 points per game and 3.2 rebounds, consistently and slowly improving his game. With excellent coaching and teamwork, Sexton could prove to be a key player and explosive weapon for the Cavaliers, both this season and in the future.

Darius Garland - G

After a rocky rookie campaign, Garland got to work over the offseason adding muscle to his 6’1” frame. Garland showed moments of potential and will try to extend those stretches into a more consistent sophomore season. His development is crucial to Cleveland’s long-term ability to contend for the playoffs.

Isaac Okoro - G/F

This year’s fifth overall pick, Okoro brings a defensive skill set that the Cavs have been missing for years. While his offensive game will need to be improved, he’s already good enough to be an impact player from day one. Okoro has the chance to lock himself in as the Cavs’ starting small forward for the foreseeable future with a strong rookie season.

Larry Nance Jr. - F/C

Nance Jr. has struggled to find the perfect team environment and fit throughout his career, spending much of his early career on underdeveloped and underperforming teams. Unfortunately for Nance, his on-court situation didn’t get that much better in Cleveland despite being traded to a team with the greatest player of all-time. He repeatedly played Center, although not a position he preferred. 2018-2019 brought a losing season and while Nance has the technical skills and has proven his athletic abilities in the past, to truly utilize him to the best of his abilities, he needs to be placed in a position to succeed.

Cedi Osman - F

Osman is in a precarious position entering his fourth season and the first year of his new contract. He has been an efficient and effective player over the last two years, but his production dropped last year and Cleveland just drafted someone at his position in Okoro. His contract is tradeable so if he starts slow, the Cavs could ship him out of town.

Damyean Dotson - G

Another solid wing option, Dotson is a floor spacer with good shooting and a solid individual defender. When he played consistent minutes with the Knicks, he put up good numbers as an effective two-way player. If Cleveland’s young guards struggle out the gate, Dotson has the chance to solidify his spot in closing lineups.

Dylan Windler - G/F

After getting drafted 26th overall in 2019, Windler had his rookie season delayed by a year due to various leg injuries. The Belmont product made his name in college as a dynamite scorer and a sharpshooter. Windler may be brought along slowly as he learns the speed of the league without a summer league to better prepare.

JaVale McGee - C

McGee, 32, spent last year with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the NBA Championship team the Los Angeles Lakers. Playing center and shooting 70% at the rim, he started in all 68 regular-season games he appeared in. Most likely, he will not stay on the Cavaliers roster long, but as long as McGee remains in the Land, he will be a huge asset to young Cleveland guards. 

Dante Exum - G

Exum is difficult to predict. In the last year of his contract and playing in hope of earning a new deal, Exum has suffered from numerous injuries throughout his career. The coaching staff has given little indication of her plans with Exum, but from prior seasons, we know that he runs the floor well. 

Matthew Dellavedova - G

Delladova is now 30-years old. A veteran of the game, he has been transitioning in recent years and is cited as a mentor by many younger players. Last year, Delladova averaged shorter amounts of game time than in the past, with 14.4 minutes per game. Concerningly, he shot his career worse on 3-point attempts and suffered a thumb injury. Coming into this season, his veteran presence could make a larger impact off the court, than on it. 

J.B. Bickerstaff - Head Coach

The Cavs have churned through several coaches in recent years and Bickerstaff was installed as Cleveland’s newest after the team parted ways with John Beilein. He has preached accountability and defense throughout training camp and the preseason and will be constantly weighing playing time between the young guns and established veterans. His ability to win while developing will determine his staying power.

Avi and Brooke are sports writers for La Tonique Media.