The Cavaliers will open the season with three 2022 All-Stars – Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland – on their roster, but it’s a fourth player who may ultimately determine how far the team goes, in the view of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
As Kelsey Russo of The Athletic details (via Twitter), Bickerstaff identifies second-year big man Evan Mobley as a crucial ceiling raiser for the franchise. As Bickerstaff explains, among the Cavaliers’ core players, Mobley is the one who still has the most room for growth.
“Without trying to put too much on him, he is the guy who can help take us to the next level,” Bickerstaff said. “We understand the value of the guys who have done it, right? Darius has been an All-Star. Jarrett was an All-Star. Donovan has been an All-Star. (Caris) LeVert, Kevin (Love), like we understand and have an appreciation for those guys.
“… His skill set and tools can help take us to the level where we want to go. And the expectation that it happens overnight, probably not. But I expect from year to year, and month to month, you’re going to see improvements from him because that’s who he is.”
Here’s more on the Cavs:
- Caris LeVert feels as good as he has in years, following a “transformative” summer that saw him reevaluate everything from his diet to his workout regimen, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. LeVert said he battled some nagging injuries last season and during the summer, but finally feels fully healthy entering the fall. As Russo writes for The Athletic, LeVert wants to prove to the Cavs that his down year in 2021/22 was a fluke.
- Improved conditioning and an attention to detail are keys for Donovan Mitchell as he attempts to show this season that he can be a reliable defensive player, Russo writes in a separate story for The Athletic. “It’s not the ability,” Mitchell said this week. “I can play defense. I know that for a fact. I haven’t shown that and that is what I’m looking forward to doing here.”
- Dean Wade‘s three-year, $18.5MM contract extension features cap hits of $5,709,877 in 2023/24, $6,166,667 in ’24/25, and $6,623,456 in ’25/26, Hoops Rumors has learned. Wade’s third-year salary is currently only partially guaranteed for $4,623,458, but that figure will increase if Wade meets certain performance-based criteria in the next three seasons — he can boost the third-year guarantee by up to $666,666 per year, based on three separate achievements worth $222,222 apiece.
- Former Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson will be working this season with the Cleveland Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Gibson’s exact title and role are unclear.
Which young core would you rather have as the foundation of your team, Donovan Mitchell (25)/Darius Garland (23)/Evan Mobley (21)/Jarrett Allen (24) or Ron Harper (25)/Mark Price (24)/Hot Rod Williams (26)/Brad Daugherty (23)? Are these Cavs capable of winning 57gms like those 89 Cavs?
Remember when joel Emvp obliterated the Cavaliers twin towers last season?
Do you remember MJ obliterating the entire Cavs defense in this 50pt masterpiece (& still losing the game) in 89?.. link to m.youtube.com
I remember moses 4-4-4 .
Sixers suck. Embiid and harden will be ringless and doc will be replaced with ime udoka.
I remember Joel being brought to tears by the Raps on their way to the championship
I’m going to take the current guys right now because I think Evan Mobley is such a dangerous piece. Everybody you named are really good players but I think Evan Mobley can be a great player.
I would 100% be trying to trade Kevin Love and LeVert this year by the deadline. Raise your hand if you think they are keeping either for them beyond this year?
I would use their salaries and try to bring in some pieces with at least another season on their contract. You can’t replace them via FA. They still have draft assets. They could even acquire assets.
Like if the Bulls or Raptors start out poorly – see if you can get DeRozan or Siakam. I think you could get an asset if you traded for Gordon Hayward, like a heavily protected 1st. Buddy Hield would be available. Knicks probably would jump at a chance to dump Fournier, Randle, Reddish for Love & LeVert.
Kevin Love is going nowhere. He is now a Cav for life. This guy has been nothing but loyal to the organization, and has been tremendous for years with all of the young players.
They really can use his vet leadership. Plus he can start and is consistent with his mins. I agree he should stay. Plus he’s only one who’s won as a Cav.
Unless Cleveland offers something ridiculous like 5 first-round picks, I can assure you that the Bulls will not be moving him to Division rival Cleveland.
I do believe at some point the Bulls will be listening to DeRozan offers. Vucevic can be had right now for cheap (Boston??).
I would definitely move Caris LeVert. The shooter I would target to get for LeVert is Luke Kennard. The Clippers ain’t saying no!
In the past I would’ve been about trading Love but he was the runner up to 6th man of the year, what else do you really want from a 6th man? What he does for us can’t be replaced.
As far as Levert, if you would’ve asked me before training camp, I also would’ve been about it, but he also provides skills we need. He’s a big strong guard who defends well, his only real knock is that he’s not a reliable 3 point shooter. But we need his assertiveness off the bench, we have no one that can create for themselves and others on there. As much as I like Rubio, he’s not that guy. I think Levert and Love can become a formidable duo off the bench.
I am very interested to see how Cleveland looks with the addition of Donovan Mitchell.
This team has some pieces. A pair of draft picks with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. A trade to get Jarrett Allen and a trade to get Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell has started EACH of the last 3 years saying that he was going to be better on defense and yet the advanced stats say he has gotten worse each year. Maybe this will be the year?
Donovan Mitchell can focus more on defense with this team because they not going to be so heavily reliant on him to initiate the offense because they have Darius Garland. This team is going to be extremely dangerous!!!!
I like LeVert a lot . I believe he’s a starting 2 in the league. But with this team. He can be sixth man of the yr. Just wonder if he’s good with that. I think he could be moved by TD. He’s on his last yr.
I totally agree with everything you just said.