2023-24 Cleveland Cavaliers Season Preview

After a quick playoff exit, the Cavs hope to celebrate their success without complacency

The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the 2023-24 season looking to celebrate the accomplishment of winning 50 plus games last year, while not letting their quick playoff exit via the New York Knicks linger in their head.

Last off-season, the Cavs made the move of the summer to acquire guard Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz, hoping to add a dynamic scorer and star to a team who’s starting five would include 3 players under the age of 25. The Cavs would get exactly what they hoped for with Michell who led the team in scoring with 28.3 points per game, field goal attempts (20.6), minutes (35.8) and including a game with a career high of 71 points.

Yet, when the Cavs reached the playoffs for just the second time post the LeBron James era (2021-22 Play in Tournament participants) they looked overmatched, out worked and bullied in their playoff series with the New York Knicks. The Cavs would get crushed on the glass, let’s take a peek at the numbers;

ADVERTISING

Game 1: 51-20 Knicks
Game 2: 43-36 Cavs
Game 3: 45-42 Knicks
Game 4: 47-33 Knicks
Game 5: 48-30 Knicks

Even when the Cavs won the rebounding battle overall, they struggled to keep the Knicks off the offensive glass even with two seven footers. Rebounding wasn’t the only thing to derail the Cavs postseason aspirations as their bench left much to be desired in their production. Coach JB Bickerstaff deployed most nights a 7 man rotation in the series, exploiting a flaw the Cavs managed to overcome all regular season.

Summer 2023 Additions

ADVERTISING

Max Strus (sign & trade)
Georges Niang (free agent)
Ty Jerome (free agent)
Tristan Thompson (free agent)
Damian Jones (trade)
Emoni Bates (‘23 draft pick)

One area the Cavs lacked in was the shooting department, so this past summer they acquired Max Strus from the Miami Heat via sign and trade. Strus averaged just 11.5 points last season, but shot 41% from the floor (career 42.7%) and 35% from three point land (career 37.1%). The Cavs like his shooting, his ability to move off the ball and to run off screens believing that will add some more dynamism to their offense.

As displayed in the playoffs, the Cavs could have used some more size off the bench, and added Georges Niang, another shooter who can space the floor. Niang played his last two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, shooting 43% from the field and 40% behind the three point line. Niang also has experience playing alongside big men (Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert) so playing him alongside Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley should be no issue and addresses the need for a consistent shooting threat off the bench.

The Cavs will debut a new backup point guard with the signing of Ty Jerome, and acquired big man Damian Jones via trade from the Utah Jazz. Last year, the Cavs reserve big man after Kevin Love’s exit was Robin Lopez. Now with Jones filling that role the Cavs get a younger and more athletic back up big that can help in the event of foul trouble or injury. The 23-24 season will see a familiar face, as the organization brought back Tristan Thompson. The Cavs believe Thomspon can still play, bring toughness and experience to the bench. Along with being a connective piece to the past and being a former top 5 pick, the expectation is for him to push the team and bring veteran leadership.

Out with the Old

Kevin Love
Cedi Osman
Lamar Stevens
Danny Green
Robin Lopez
Mamadi Diakite
Raul Neto
Dylan Windler

The Cavs released Kevin Love last season and as the Heat would go on to their franchise’s 7th NBA Finals appearance, Cavs fans could only watch and wonder if their team’s fate might have been different if the 7 foot shooting big was playing for the Cavs.

Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens were shipped away as pieces in the Max Strus trade. Osman and Stevens struggled during the playoffs last season and with coach Bickerstaff running mostly a 7 man rotation, they’re production didn’t do enough to garner more playing time and with both players not known for their shooting, made things more congested for the offense. Former first round draft pick Dylan Windler spent most of his tenure injured or on the bench, he’s moved onto the New York Knicks where he signed a 2 way contract.

Expectations and mindset

Koby Altman when asked if he believes last season was a successful one, he answered quickly and with “Yes, but what’s next?”

The Cavs maintain that winning 51 games and finishing top four in the Eastern Conference are the marks of a successful season, yet they’re not ignoring their lack of playoff progress.

One criticism the Cavs will have to work on to debunk is their perceived toughness, at media day Coach Bickerstaff when asked about his team being physically and mentally tough;

“Our guys are physically and mentally tough, sometimes you run into guys, stronger than you, and they can make you pay, but I don’t feel like our guys backed down from the challenge, or ran from the competition.
I don’t think they were afraid, you don’t become the #1 defensive team in the league  and not be tough physically and mentally.”

Is Brooklyn in the house

The Cavs will begin the 23-24 regular season taking on the Nets in Brooklyn on October 25th with tip off set for 7:30 pm eastern. Last season the Cavs won the season series 2 games to 1.

Their last two matchups would include the new look Nets after they traded away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (receiving Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Spencer Dinwiddie).

Darius Garland had one of the best scoring nights of his career, putting up 46 points and 8 assist in their first matchup with the Nets last season, however the Cavs would drop that matchup 125 – 117.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs in scoring with 31 points in games 2 and 3 and Evan Mobley averaged 18.3 points and 8.6 rebounds during the season series. In the Cavs/Nets final matchup, Mobley experienced one of his best nights, showing off his full potential with 26 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists.