Are the Cavaliers primed for the playoffs?
From a record standpoint the Cavaliers were poor in the 2012-13 season, winning just 24 games. Player development on the other hand was a success. Kyrie Irving showed strong improvement his second year, as did forward Tristan Thompson. Rookie Dion Waiters showed promise as a capable shooting guard. Pieces were in place for Cleveland entering the offseason but as the record showed there was much to improve on.
The team fired Byron Scott, replacing him with former coach Mike Brown. Scott’s firing was a bit surpring, as was replacing him with Brown, who was head coach before Scott. Looking back, Brown’s firing now appears as more of a reaction by the team to entice Lebron to stay, rather than the team having major issues with Brown’s coaching style. Now he’s back, with a much different Cleveland roster, but one with plenty of promise.
Draft
Cleveland’s luck in the lottery has gone about as well as any team could hope. 1st and 4th picks two seasons ago, and the 4th pick last season. That luck continued this summer, rewarded once again with the 1st overall pick. The question then became who they would select with no consensus number one. Nerlens Noel and Alex Len, two players pegged by many as worth the top pick, would be surplus to requirements. Otto Porter, a small forward out of Georgetown, would address the team’s biggest need, but would be a reach as the top pick. Endless debate ensued, and Cleveland said to hell with all the debate and selected UNLV forward Anthony Bennett.
Picking Bennett surprised everyone, but his offensive skill set, in particular his midrange game, makes him an enticing player, giving them a different option at power forward next to Thompson’s primarily inside game. While The Lottery Mafia’s own Brian Emory doesn’t believe Bennett can play the small forward spot, I am open to the idea. Offensively he has the skill set, though defensively he leaves a lot to be desired. Bennett is already a question mark when guarding the post, so improving that part of his game should come first before the team experiments with him elsewhere.
The team also drafted Russian Sergey Karasev with the 19th pick. Karasev, who lead the Russian top division in scoring last season, will provide outside shooting. At 19 years old it may take time for Karasev to develop. Currently he is playing for Russia in the FIBA Eurobasket tournament, but has struggled, averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game.
In the second round the team selected Allen Crabbe with the 31st pick before trading him to Portland for 2015 and ’16 second round picks, and took Carrick Felix with the 33rd pick. Felix, from Arizona State, can play both the shooting guard and small forward positions, and growing up, dreamed of being the next Tony Hawk.
Cleveland’s draft didn’t necessarily address their biggest needs, instead going with players with a high level of upside and risk.
Draft Grade: B
Free Agency
The team let Daniel Gibson, Luke Walton, and Semih Erden’s contracts expire, and then waived Chris Quinn and Kevin Jones. Replacing them were much bigger names, Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark, and Andrew Bynum.
Jack signed on a four year, $25.2 million deal, providing Cleveland with a legitimate back up point guard to Irving, with also the skill set to play the two guard. Coming off a strong season in Golden State, Jack gives the Cavaliers depth in the backcourt they haven’t had since Irving arrived.
Addressing the small forward position, the team signed Earl Clark to a two year, $8.5 million deal. A bright spot for an otherwise frustrating Lakers team last season, Clark played in 59 games, starting 36, averaging 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23 minutes a game. Clark brings great size at 6’10, and can play both forward positions. His biggest strength is defense, where he will more adept at guarding the bigger small forwards in the league who would present challenges for last year’s starter Alonzo Gee. Offensively he isn’t as sound, though there could be some untapped potential on that side of the ball. Clark’s deal is two years, but the second year is a team option, so the risk is minimal if he doesn’t work out this season.
Finally, there is Bynum. When healthy he is one of the best centers in the league, when injured he spends time styling his hair. Questions about his motivation have followed Bynum from Los Angeles to Philadelphia and now Cleveland, but the Cavaliers are taking a necessary risk. His deal is two years, $24 million. If he’s waived before January 7th, 2014, he is only guaranteed $6 million. This gives Cleveland time to assess whether he has fully healed from his injuries, and whether he’s motivated enough to be one of the best at his position again. If Bynum works out, Cleveland is a potentially dangerous team.
Free Agency Grade: A-
Summary
The Cavaliers were considerably lucky winning the lottery again, and selected players based on potential talent rather than immediate need. If Bennett (and Karasev to a lesser extent) fulfill their potential, Cleveland has two offensive threats in the post and on the wing. The team took a big risk signing Andrew Bynum, but also addressed needs and depth with the signings of Jarrett Jack and Earl Clark. With these signings, plus Cleveland’s draft picks, the team has depth at every position.
For the first time since Lebron, the Cavaliers have the makings of a playoff team. They have an All-Star point guard in Irving, they have a good mix of young and veteran talent. Competing for a lower playoff spot in the East is a realistic goal.
Overall Off-season Grade B+
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