Cavs roster8/16/2023 Looking outside the final starting lineup is where one can find the actual trade bait that the Cavs could shuffle to improve the roster. If one had to guess right now, Caris LeVert has the inside track on being the starting shooting guard for the Cavs next season. Lastly, unlike Collin Sexton, LeVert is under contract for the 2022-23 season and there’s mutual interest in a contract extension beyond next season. Taking these numbers into account, it validates the idea that LeVert looks like a 16 Game Player. Secondly, Caris LeVert has a history of playoff production despite being a younger player (28 years old next season). With Isaac Okoro being too inexperienced and ineffective on offense, LeVert was able to help the team achieve an elite +17.4 net rating in 24 minutes on the court with the starting lineup. One obvious reason is that LeVert was the Cavs’ only playable shooting guard against Atlanta in the play-in game. Obviously it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he were shipped off in a trade, but there are a few reasons to believe he’ll be the starting shooting guard for next year’s team. Various plus-minus metrics (EPM and net rating for instance) have LeVert ranked well outside the top 200 of qualifying NBA players, while his contract is reflective of a top 75 NBA player. It’s also fair to say that LeVert clearly underperformed relative to his contract over the past year, and specifically with the Cavs. Outside of Lauri Markkanen, Caris LeVert appears to be the trade bait of choice for Cavs fans when discussing potential offseason moves. Markkanen didn’t play so well that the Cavs wouldn’t entertain a trade for an upgrade, but count yours truly as one who thinks that year two of Cavs’ Lauri is going to be better than year one and it could potentially be one of the most exciting storylines of next season should he remain a Cav. Personally, the ultimate question about Lauri Markkanen is, “is (Player X) a 16 game player? Can (Player X) stay on the court throughout the rigors of the NBA playoffs?” Judging by Lauri Markkanen’s performance in the Cavs’ biggest game of the season against the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in, one would have to answer that question in the affirmative. Certainly Cavs fans love using Lauri as trade bait in various hypothetical trades. Bickerstaff and the Cavs’ front office see the Big Finnish as a backup big instead of starting forward, as well as possible trade bait to upgrade the starting small forward position. However, there were less flattering reports right after the season ended suggesting that Coach J.B. That makes sense given he’s a younger player on a multi-year, fair market deal. On a recent podcast appearance, ’s Chris Fedor reported that if there were a fourth player in the Cavs’ core, it would be Lauri Markkanen. The Cavs will go as far as DG, Mobley, and Allen will take them. Add in the inevitable max contract extension for budding superstar Evan Mobley, and there you have it… a core that’s signed through 2025-26 and beyond. With DG’s breakout year this past season, there are reports floating around that his representation is seeking a max contract extension and that the Cavs are willing to oblige that desire. First off, there’s a clear core of three players who will be in the Cavs’ long term future: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland. Judging by how the Cavs will be spending their money now and in the future, several things can be divined. With the NBA Draft days away and free agency about a week after, let’s take a 30,000 feet view of the roster as it currently stands…
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