Cavs off-season confidence meter
Our staff voted on how we feel about the direction of the team after the first week of free agency.
We’re just over a week into free agency. It’s a good time for the Fear the Sword staff to provide a temperature check on where we feel things stand for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The exercise is simple. We voted on a scale of 1-10 on how much confidence we have in the five categories below and why we think that way.
Front Office
Staff voting: 6.75
Twitter (X) poll grade: B
There should be a split on how we view the front office this summer. On the one hand, they’ve taken their victory lap and won the bet of re-signing Donovan Mitchell after staking the bulk of their future on his long-term commitment. Then, they hired Kenny Atkinson and ushered in sweeping changes to the coaching staff. Finally, we can presume an Evan Mobley extension is on the way – securing one of the best defenders in the NBA at just 23 years old and setting the stage for Cleveland’s foreseeable future.
Conversely, there is growing unease at the general lack of activity from Koby Altman. The Cavs have stood idle through the start of summer while other teams, notably the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, have upped the ante by acquiring new talent. The front office is doubling down on its commitment to the core, in a move that could be just as risky as shuffling the deck.
This summer will likely be the defining moment of Altman’s tenure. His patience may be rewarded heavily if the core reaches its ceiling under a new coaching staff. Not to mention, adding another first-round draft pick in Jaylon Tyson to potentially contribute. Yet if all of this patience leads to stagnation – the front office will have fumbled a prime opportunity to be a contender in the post-LeBron era. — Tony Pesta
Coaching Staff
Staff voting: 8.75
Twitter (X) poll grade: A
It was clear throughout the season and in the playoffs that the Cavs needed a new voice in the locker room. Marcus Morris made it abundantly clear himself. J.B. Bickerstaff had worn out his welcome, though there should be no taking away from his accomplishments in Cleveland. Guiding the Cavs through some tumultuous times and eventually an appearance in the second round of the playoffs is nothing to scoff at. But it was time for a change.
In comes Kenny Atkinson, a coach that many around the league were happy to see get another opportunity after a few years as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Atkinson was asked during his introductory press conference how those roles shaped him since he was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Atkinson said he is a completely new person and appears not only eager but ready for the challenge of getting the Cavs to the next level.
Atkinson is bringing Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant to his coaching staff. Ott was one of the top assistants on Darvin Ham’s Los Angeles Lakers staff. Bryant, who was originally brought to the New York Knicks to entice Donovan Mitchell to sign there, was regarded by Immanuel Quickley as “one of the smartest coaches” he has been around. Hard not to be moved by those hires. Coupled with a new voice that the players approve of, it's hard not to be a little optimistic about the coaching landscape in Cleveland. — Mike Anguilano
Starting Lineup
Staff voting: 7
Twitter (X) poll grade: B
Say what you will about the Cavs’ lack of moves this offseason, but the starting lineup has a track record of being pretty solid. The backcourt, at its best, is as dynamic as any other in the league. Darius Garland and Mitchell can be both lethal as shooters and downhill threats. The frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has tremendous defensive upside, with untapped potential offensively. Small forward continues to be a troubling sticking point.
The issue with the starting lineup, and part of the reason the staff score is somewhat tepid, is that there were quite a few low points last season. Garland was not himself, for one reason or another. Allen played much better without Mobley next to him, and vice versa in the playoffs. Max Strus was very streaky, Isaac Okoro made another incremental step forward, and Dean Wade continues to be a massive health question mark.
That being said, the core four is still strong. But its ceiling hinges on Mobley developing into a more stout offensive threat. There is some optimism, but these questions have been asked for a few offseasons now. — Anguilano
Bench
Staff voting: 3.25
Twitter (X) poll grade: C
The postseason highlighted the Cavaliers’ significant lack of depth on the bench. They’re in desperate need of more complete basketball players. As of now, the Cavaliers have not signed anyone in free agency. With the Isaac Okoro situation appearing to be heading with him exiting, this could be where the Cavaliers reshuffle their bench unit.
The Cavaliers have many needs for their bench: Finding a true point guard and a true forward to throw on the likes of Franz Wagner, Jaylen Brown, and Jason Tatum. Last season, the backup guard minutes were dispersed between Caris LeVert and Craig Porter Jr. LeVert, while capable of operating second units, should not be the sole initiator of the offense. Porter showed flashes early on but faded as the season went along and seems a year or two away from competing for those responsibilities.
The Cavaliers are reportedly looking to acquire a wing player, with Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets being the most frequently mentioned names. While such acquisitions could bolster the team in the near term, they might come at the cost of future flexibility. The struggles of the bench further complicate matters, as players like Georges Niang and Wade, despite having reasonable salaries, have not consistently demonstrated enough on-court performance to retain significant trade value.
With the free agency market dwindling, the Cavaliers will have to shift their efforts to the trade market. Okoro appears to be their chip to cash for anyone with substance. This would mean the Cavaliers have given up on one of their more promising prospects who could have a new life under the coaching of Atkinson. By staying dormant in this aspect of the offseason the bench and the roster will pay the price. — Corey Walsh
Overall Outlook
Staff voting: 6.75
Twitter (X) poll grade: B
It’s difficult to be too high on the Cavs at this point considering the moves their peers in the East have made. The Knicks, Sixers, and Orlando Magic have all gotten better. Even the Milwaukee Bucks with something as simple as signing Taurean Prince is at least an improvement over last season. The same can’t currently be said about the Cavaliers.
Even if you believe in the core four, it’s unreasonable to have faith in the pieces surrounding them. Atkinson should help things, but if you believed that head coaching was the only thing keeping you from the top of the conference then they should’ve moved on from Bickerstaff well before they did.
The front office has plenty of time to make a ceiling-altering move. The margin between the Cavs and their competition in the East is thin. A few tweaks could drastically change how we feel about this team. That said, if this was the roster heading into next season, it feels like there’s a better chance Cleveland loses in the first round than there is of them advancing out of the second next season. — Jackson Flickinger