The NBA’s small-ball revolution led to sweeping changes across the league. Of course, that’s generally what revolutions do. 

By 2022, almost no team feels complete unless they have their version of the Golden State Warriors “Death Lineup”. Any contender can field a group that features a smaller, defensively versatile forward at the 5. It allows them to play with more pace and use more aggressive, hedging defensive schemes. 

Apparently, the Cleveland Cavaliers missed the memo. 

In all likelihood, they got it, and chose to zig where the league was zagging. Last season, the Cavaliers went so big that teams from the center-dominated 90s may have questioned their logic. They started 7-footer Lauri Markkanen at the small forward position. 

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To an extent, it worked. The Cavaliers advanced to the play-in tournament, but if not for an injury to Jarrett Allen, they may have been able to skip it altogether.

With that said, if they do decide to go shopping for a more traditional wing this summer, they should give the Charlotte Hornets a call.