The blockbuster for Donovan Mitchell abruptly ended the Cavaliers’ rebuilding project while amping up expectations, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
For a majority of the offseason, the Cavaliers were seemingly banking on internal improvement via a few minor tweaks. The trade changes that outlook. Lauri Markkanen is the player who will be the most difficult to replace since he was the team’s best option at small forward, Fedor adds.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Trading Collin Sexton to Utah was the best case scenario for both him and the Cavaliers, Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes. He deserved better from the franchise considering the growing pains they endured. However, the team also earned the right not to overpay for him on his rookie scale extension. He wound up getting a four-year, $72MM contract.
- The Cavaliers remain in good shape regarding the salary cap since Kevin Love’s contract expires next summer when Darius Garland’s extension kicks in, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic notes. The timing of these deals will allow them to decide when they enter the luxury tax and begin the repeat offender clock.
- The Pistons traded into the lottery to snare center Jalen Duren but he’ll likely spend a majority of the season with the G League’s Motor City Cruise, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. The roster includes several veteran big men and GM Troy Weaver and head coach Dwane Casey are proponents of developing young talent in the G League. Duren at 18 is the youngest player in the league, Langlois notes.
Duren is playing on a 28 win team. Gonna play in NBA not Gatorade league
Agree as I’d be surprised if Duran is in the G League all season…I’d expect him playing some rotation minutes for the Pistons sooner rather than later
The youngest active player in the NBA is Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, who is currently 18 years old and was born on November 18, 2003.
Youngest player drafted. It’s best he play in G-league. Than sit on Pistons bench. Their season is over in April (34 gms). He’ll be playing soon enough. There’s no rush. Duren has a big future imo. Knicks should of drafted him.
He definitely will be in the rotation after the Trade deadline
No he won’t.
Okoro has to be the 3. Need that defensive wing with the starters. They can bring in Levert for offense when needed. It’s completely true that Mitchell ended their rebuilding period. He’s still only 25 and will get better himself. Outside expectations might’ve grown but this team can still build alot
Huh?
@Lionel
I think it’ll be a combo of Okoro and Cedi. At least Cedi gives us some size.
Agree Cedi or Okoro
Although I think it’ll be Okoro cause he’s the better defender and I think Cedi’s size advantage could be handy for the bench.
A bench unit of Rubio LeVert Cedi and KLove is very good. Cedi can play 3/4 and Love 4/5.
Beyond that you also have Raul Neto, Robins Lopez, Dylan Windler, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens etc. Still some good talent beyond the main rotation.
I love the combinations
Rubio and Mitchell, the bigs Mobley Allen and Love, LeVert backing up Mitchell, Okoro or Cedi at the 3. Not that it’s a big deal at all but I’d just add a 3 and D veteran wing for depth. Like Trevor Ariza if he was a couple years younger would be perfect, maybe DeAndre Bembry could do that job for them
I’ve always liked Lauri. Believe he hasn’t been coached well. Unfortunate that executives and coaches push players to fulfill their expectations. When they should be making sure. A 19 yr old develops and grows into his body and gm well. Lauri is 25. And got no business playing SF. He’s a stretch 4. And can put up 20 n 10. By now they could of made him a better D player. He needs to take control of his game.
@Knick
Markannen impressed me last year. I was not a fan of them signing him in thrre sign and trade but by midseason he really seemed to find himself and the chemistry with him and Garland was quite obvious. What impressed me most was how he moved without the ball. Pick and rolls, pick ang pops and cutting strong and attacking the rim. Attacking the rim in particular was a shock. Don’t remember him being that mobile nor that aggressive in Chicago. Im not suggesting that he could or should play SF for ANY OTHER TEAM but for the Cavs it worked magically with the other two 7fters. With the threesome they were a +9 per 100 possessions vs opponents and with the 2 bigs and Garland a +12. I wish they were able to include Levert instead of Markannen. He gave them a distinct advantage over most lineups and the two others made sure thrre defense didn’t suffer.
Yea, but I’m sure Utah wanted to make sure to get a light skinned player in return. I joke. But I agree with you regarding keeping him and having traded Levert instead. I’m not a fan of Leverts fit on this team and was also hoping that Lauri would eventually fill in as K. Loves replacement whenever him and the team decided to go their separate ways.
She’s so much fatter IRL