Road to Relevance: Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland and Collin Sexton have thrived in the Cavaliers’ backcourt in their short time together. (Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)
In this edition of “Road to Relevance,” I’ll be taking a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. After making the NBA Finals for four straight seasons from 2015 to 2018, including their 2016 NBA Championship, the departure of hometown star LeBron James has left the Cavs at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With the third pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft, the Cavs have a route towards a potential return to the playoff mix in the East.
The 2020-21 season saw the Cavs reach their highest win total since James’ final season with the team, as they finished with a record of 22-50. Their most experienced and longest-tenured player, Kevin Love, has hit several bumps in the road with the organization including a variety of injuries and clashes with short-lived head coach John Beilein.
Love has been the frequent subject of trade rumors, as the Cavs have turned to the draft in recent seasons to rebuild their roster, but the 32-year-old’s large salary has seemed to make suitable trades hard to come by. With him under contract until the 2023 offseason, the Cavs will likely retain Love and hope that he can stay in good health as they continue to retool.
Despite finishing last season with a poor record, there are a number of things to be excited about moving forward in Cleveland.
The young backcourt duo of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, given the portmanteau of “Sexland” by the Cavs’ fanbase, has shown real substance as a one-two punch. Sexton is an incredibly talented triple-threat scorer, as he averaged 24.3 points per game this season while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. He shot at a high percentage from almost any distance to the basket, finishing in the paint at a rate of 62 percent while shooting 48 percent between 10 and 16 feet away.
Sexton’s playmaking leaves a lot to be desired, but those duties have largely fallen to Garland playing at point guard. Garland’s game offensively is not as developed as Sexton’s, as he struggles to put the ball on the floor and attack defenders, but his jumper has proven reliable as he shot 40 percent from three on five attempts per game this season. His per-game averages of 17.4 points and six assists are impressive for a second-year player, but Sexton’s offensive versatility has made him the definitive centerpiece of the team.
The Cavaliers boast one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, with players like Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and Jarrett Allen potentially staying in Cleveland long-term. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
The remainder of the Cavs roster is filled out primarily with younger talent, including proven rotation players like Jarrett Allen, Cedi Osman and Taurean Prince alongside the rookie duo of Isaac Okoro and Dylan Windler. The youth movement in Cleveland will be furthered by the addition of a top-three pick in this year’s draft, as the Cavs will most likely select either Evan Mobley or Jalen Green.
Both options will make for interesting fits with the team, as Mobley’s selection would see him competing with Allen for minutes at center while Green has been scouted as a shooting guard, the primary position of Sexton.
Although the Cavs will not have a say in which of the two prospects will be available for their selection, the selection that they make will have big implications for their offseason.
If Mobley falls to them, then the organization must consider how much value they place in Allen as he is due for a substantial contract this summer.
Green is more flexible in terms of his spot in the lineup, as his height of 6’5” will allow him to slot in at small forward next to the shorter Garland and Sexton backcourt.
With the ninth-most cap space in the league, the Cavs’ biggest priority in free agency will be the decision they make regarding Allen.
The team seems committed to rebuilding through the draft and player development, but taking fliers on young free agents who can mesh well with Sexton, Garland and their draft selection should be the name of the game. Deepening their roster, especially at the forward positions, could set the Cavs up for a much more successful 2021-22 campaign, and if they can find a worthy return for Kevin Love in a trade then they might find themselves back in the playoff picture in the next few seasons.
