The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the bigger surprises during the 2021-22 NBA season. They won 44 games, which was the most a Cavaliers team has won without LeBron James being on the roster since 1997-98. While it didn’t result in a playoff appearance, as Cleveland was defeated by the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Play-In Tournament, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
Looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings, the Cavaliers sought out veterans that would help round out the roster in free agency. Ricky Rubio was brought back on a three-year deal but is still recovering from his ACL injury suffered last season.
To shore things up until his return to the lineup, the team also signed Raul Neto away from the Washington Wizards. Robin Lopez was signed away from the Orlando Magic to provide some insurance and more experience to the frontcourt.
However, last week, the Cavaliers made a big splash acquisition. They acquired three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji. The Cavaliers will also be sending three unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 to Utah along with two pick swaps in 2026 and 2028.
While it hasn’t explicitly been stated, the Cavaliers will now carry expectations of making the playoffs as a top-six seed at the very least. With Mitchell in the fold, Cleveland is on the path to becoming a contender.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Donovan Mitchell & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Their starting lineup already featured two All-Stars in Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Evan Mobley, who was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award, is a budding two-way star who isn’t far off from making his first All-Star team as well.
Adding Mitchell to that trio gives Cleveland one of the best quartets in the NBA. Mitchell is the oldest of the bunch as he will turn 26 before the season begins. Allen is only 24, while Garland is 22 and Mobley is 21.
Completing a trade of that magnitude without surrendering any of their core pieces is a huge win for Koby Altman and the front office. Mitchell is a souped-up version of Sexton with his superior playmaking. While neither are strong defenders, Mitchell is better in that area as well as some advanced stats place Sexton among the worst defenders in the NBA.
While Garland and Mitchell are a small backcourt, as they are 6’1” and 6’2” respectively, having the duo of Mobley and Allen behind them will help clean up some of the mess defensively. Mobley’s switchability and Allen’s rim protection lay the foundation of an elite defense.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Donovan Mitchell & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
The only thing that is missing is a shutdown wing. They are certainly hoping that Isaac Okoro, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, can become that. He is already a solid defender, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired.
Garland and Mitchell can carry the scoring load, but if Okoro can become even just an average 3-point shooter for the upcoming season, the ceiling of this team rises exponentially. He did take a step toward that, improving from a 29 percent shooter as a rookie from 3-point range to a 35 percent shooter in his sophomore season, albeit on low volume.
Markkanen had a solid first season with the Cavaliers but was miscast in his role. He was the starting small forward as J.B. Bickerstaff deployed a three-big lineup while the rest of the league was going small. Being able to deploy a more traditional lineup should raise the team’s ceiling as well.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Donovan Mitchell & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
The Cavaliers are certainly improved heading into the 2022-23 campaign. They are likely a second-round team currently, but they have the potential to become contenders if the young players take big enough strides during this season.
For them to cement themselves in the upper echelon of the conference, they likely need to add at least one more wing to the mix. To reach their optimal ceiling, they will likely have to transition toward Mobley being the only big man in the lineup. Once he is ready for that, trading Allen for a bonafide two-way wing, someone with the frame of OG Anunoby, would help Cleveland become a true contender.
