The Cleveland Cavaliers did not qualify for the NBA Playoffs after back-to-back play-in losses versus the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. With that being said, the Cavaliers showed immense improvement this season compared to last. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen became All-Stars. Evan Mobley is a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year race and has all the makings of a future All-Star. Cleveland has found its core, and now it’s time to make a few other improvements to truly become a playoff contender.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Steps to Improvement
1. Figure Out the Future of a Former Key Player
Collin Sexton only played 11 games this season due to injury. Last season, however, he averaged over 24 points per game. With that being said, Cleveland was still not a good team and Sexton’s fit with Garland was questionable.
Garland has emerged as Cleveland’s key player. This makes Sexton expendable, even more so now with Caris LeVert around.
Due to Sexton’s past scoring outputs, he’s likely in line for a pricey contract. Cleveland can easily opt to not re-sign him this season. Another route, however, could be exploring sign-and-trades. Sure, maybe Sexton doesn’t fit with this core, but Cleveland can certainly look to get something for him.
2. Grab a Scorer in the Draft
Now that Cleveland did not qualify for the playoffs, they will own their first-round pick. It was sent to the Indiana Pacers in the LeVert deal, although it was top-14 protected.
With their pick most likely being at the end of the lottery, unless luck plays a major factor, then Cleveland should target an instant impact scorer.
Options in their range can include the likes of Ochai Agbaji, Jaden Hardy, MarJon Beauchamp, and others.
This list includes a college senior (and national champion with the Kansas Jayhawks) and two G-League products, so perhaps they can contribute immediately.
3. The Cleveland Cavaliers Must Improve Their Bench
Key pieces on the Cavaliers’ bench this season included Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, Rajon Rondo, and Lamar Stevens. Dean Wade got injured down the stretch.
Love was phenomenal off the bench and a true leader. He averaged about 14 points and seven rebounds per game and is the last link on this team to Cleveland’s older postseason success. Osman and Okoro are very solid pieces as well. The rest are expendable, but Cleveland can certainly opt to keep them.
A draft pick can fill a bench spot. Besides that, there are solid and affordable free-agent pieces that the Cavaliers can target.
A few of these players, among others, include veterans like Thaddeus Young, Joe Ingles, JaVale McGee, Jeremy Lamb, and Otto Porter Jr. There are younger options too, such as Malik Monk, Aaron Holiday, Bruce Brown Jr., and Kendrick Nunn.
In short, there will be plenty of options for the Cavaliers to target. After unexpected success, they need to be looking to make the playoffs next season. With the team’s exciting young core in place as well, Cleveland instantly becomes a more appealing free-agent destination.
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