The Cleveland Cavaliers are officially out of rebuilding mode, and have begun to focus on looking for more playmaking. The Cavaliers front office has made it clear that they want a consistent guard who is able to carry the team in multiple ways–the Cavs hope Paul George will be the answer.
The “what is wrong with the cavs” is a question that has been asked since the Cleveland Cavaliers began their rebuild. The Cavs have officially exited rebuilding mode as they look for more playmaking.
Ping pong balls are a thing of the past. Fish are kept in The Land’s only tanks. The Cleveland Cavaliers have entered the win-now phase of their season. Cleveland is fourth in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Miami Heat, despite a humiliating 111–102 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 30. Since LeBron James’ second departure in 2018, the Cavs have already won more games than in any other season.
However, there are some reservations in Cleveland. Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio were both injured, leaving Darius Garland as the lone playmaker. Cleveland general manager Koby Altman reacted by acquiring veteran Rajon Rondo from the Lakers, but the Cavaliers still want to add to their backcourt depth before the NBA trade deadline on February 10th.
Garland rose to prominence with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers went into rebuilding mode after free agent LeBron James left town, the process concluded four years later when he returned.
It’s been a natural process this time.
Sexton, Garland, and Isaac Okoro, all first-round draft selections, are developing into valuable players. Evan Mobley, this year’s pick, is a strong contender for Rookie of the Year. Jarrett Allen was acquired via trade, and Kevin Love, a former All-Star, is thriving in a reduced role.
Sexton is gone for the season after sustaining a knee injury in early November. The Cavs, on the other hand, didn’t skip a beat with Garland in charge.
The 22-year-old is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19.8 points per game while also dishing out 8.2 assists per game. Both are career highs for the 2019 NBA Draft’s fifth overall pick.
Garland is a contender for an Eastern Conference reserve spot in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, thanks to the Cavs’ rapid rise. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will host the game. Because the franchise hasn’t had an All-Star since James and Love in 2018, this is a welcome addition.
Rubio had a good season until suffering a knee injury in late December. This led to the acquisition of Rondo, who has averaged 20.4 minutes per game since his arrival.
Given the Cavaliers’ pursuit of a top-four playoff seed, it’s understandable that Altman would want to add more backcourt depth for the final stretch.
The first-round selection for this year is up for grabs as a possible trade chip.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are prepared to trade their first-round choice in June’s NBA draft, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, in order to better their backcourt predicament.
Kevin Pangos, a 29-year-old NBA rookie, is Cleveland’s sole point guard behind Garland and Rondo. From 2011 through 2015, the Canadian was a standout for Gonzaga. He spent the following six seasons in Europe after being undrafted, playing three in Spain and two in Lithuania before finishing his career with Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia.
Pangos was signed by the Cavaliers in September. Despite stints in the Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards from 2015–17, it was his first NBA contract.
Cleveland has gone 21–10 since Nov. 27, but Garland would benefit from another playmaker to assist him in late-game situations.
The Cavaliers want to pair their first-round selection with Rubio’s expiring deal, according to Fedor’s report. They might potentially take advantage of wing depth. Cedi Osman has struggled recently, and Okoro’s attacking game is limited.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of issues.
Darius Garland has emerged as the strongest offensive weapon for the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading the club in scoring and assists. They’d want to get him some assistance, however. | Getty Images/Jason Miller
Only the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets average more turnovers per game than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have 15 turnovers a game. Their 35.1 percent 3-point shooting ranks 16th in the league, but they only try 34 times a night, which puts them in the bottom ten.
Cleveland sits third in the NBA with a 105.3 defensive rating, thanks to Mobley and Allen’s strong rim protection. However, the team’s offense might get stagnant at times. When the squad gets to the foul line, it’s also an adventure. Their 75.5 percent shooting percentage is 23rd in the NBA, and it decreases to 73.8 percent in crucial situations. When points are at a premium in tight games, this is a serious issue.
After the New Year, Osman’s shot faded. In 12 games in January, he’s hit only 37.9% overall and a dismal 27.7% on 5.4 triple attempts per game. For the season, their percentages are 43.0 percent and 36.1 percent, respectively. Perhaps the Cavaliers’ current downturn is a fluke, but considering their newfound stature as Eastern Conference contenders, they might not want to take that chance.
After Rubio’s injury, the Cavaliers were given a $8.9 million injured player exception, which they would have to spend before include him in a deal. They’re also restricted to just acquire players whose contracts are about to expire.
Cleveland is also eligible for a $4.3 million trade exemption, but it is just $3 million short of the luxury tax threshold.
Given their 60–159 record over the previous three seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ ability to consider purchasing at the trade deadline is astounding. The front staff, on the other hand, looks to be willing to go all-in and pursue their newfound position in order to win immediately.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provided contract information.
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