The Cleveland Cavaliers got all the way to the 204-15 NBA Finals last year and had things broken the right way, they may have won. They got there without Kevin Love and even won two games without Kyrie Irving, which would have the casual observer thinking they’re as close to winning a title right now as a team can get.
Of course, before any NBA team can go out and win a championship, they need to lie their foundation for success in place. They need a starting lineup they can fall back on in the toughest moments and a set of role players they know can come through when needed. For the most part, the pieces you’re thinking of are the exact pieces that will matter most for the Cavaliers this year. But if they want to win it all, conducting their lineup in a certain order may be advised.
Here’s our take on how the Cavs should run their roster this year if they’re serious about winning it all:
Suggested Starting 5: Kyrie Irving (PG), Iman Shumpert (SG), LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Timofey Mozgov (C)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were a well oiled machine when healthy. J.R. Smith is absent from this team and correctly so, as he ultimately doesn’t fit in with a team that wants to both play great team defense and also run offensively. Smith would be a fine component off the bench, but Shumpert at his best can provide outside shooting, but is a better creator and a far better defender. Shumpert is a terrific fit at the two spot, and his only issue at all is being able to consistently knock down the three. He should be fine there, while not much needs to be said about star players like Irving or James.
Kevin Love is an offensive beast that simply didn’t get into a groove as the third guy in the pecking order in his first year with the Cavs. He seems to have fully bought into just being the third star on this team like Chris Bosh did by his second season with the Miami Heat, though, and that’s precisely why he’ll end up working out at the four spot. Love’s defense leaves a lot to be desired but he is an elite offensive presence that stretches the floor, can work inside and also hits the boards at an extremely high level.
There was chatter about Tristan Thompson starting over him, but Thompson has little offensive game. He’s best served as a rotational piece when the Cavs need defense, and he can play both the four or five as needed. Mozgov is the prototypical center and fits in perfectly with this team. He’s athletic enough to run with the Cavs, rebounds, can defend and even blocks shots. He’s a little inconsistent, but seemed to really hit his stride in the playoffs last year.
This is a deadly starting five with Shumpert being the only real weakness. If he hits outside shots consistently, though, he’ll be exactly what the Cavs need at shooting guard.
Key Rotation: Mo Williams (PG), Joe Harris (SG), Richard Jefferson (SF), Tristan Thompson (F/C), Anderson Varejao (C)
The key for the Cavs is going to be their bench. We saw LeBron beast out in the NBA Finals, but him trying to carry the team didn’t work out. He was inefficient and eventually he ran out of gas. He also didn’t have any star power around him and his bench was pretty weak. That should change this year, as Mo Williams proved last year that he’s an absolute menace. Mo can start at the point in a pinch and is a fantastic backup that can hit the three all day and also help run the offense. He’s a defensive liability, but he’ll be on the floor with Shump and James usually so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
I’m vouching for Joe Harris over James Jones. Harris is an elite shooting specialist that to me has major potential as that classic floor spacer the Heat had for James and the Cavs obviously need if they want to win a title. Jones was so absent on the floor when he wasn’t getting or hitting looks and it’s time Cleveland transitioned to someone with a little more upside. I think that’s Harris, who has the size and length to potentially improve as a defender, too. For now, having a strict shooting role off the bench will work just fine. Richard Jefferson can be a spacer, too, but he’s largely here for veteran leadership.
Having Tristan Thompson (who has yet to be officially signed) coming off the bench is amazing. He can hit the boards, score inside and man up on defense. He can start at the four or five or fill in at both spots as needed. He’s going to be pretty overpaid, but he’s a huge part of Cleveland’s team and should play a lot this coming season. Varejao is a total bonus, as he’s a major health risk every year. Anything the Cavs can get out of him is great, as he’d be amazing depth behind Mozzy. A healthy, effective Andy V can clean the glass, block shots and help defend the paint.
There is also chatter about Jamal Crawford coming to the Cavs. If that happens, I’d bump Harris down along with Jones and obviously use Crawford off the bench as the J.R. Smith replacement. Overall, though, Cleveland had the best trio in the league at this point, a very strong starting five and a healthy, balanced bench to work with. They’re favorites to win it all this year, and for very good reason.
