What Is the Cleveland Cavs' Starting Lineup?
The starting lineup has finally stayed upright this season after going through plenty of turbulence last season. Unfortunately, it was not smooth sailing last season, as injuries destroyed their chances of contending. So far, things have gone well, and it has allowed the Cavaliers to unleash their true potential.
| Position | Starter |
| Point Guard | Darius Garland |
| Shooting Guard | Donovan Mitchell |
| Small Forward | Max Strus |
| Power Forward | Evan Mobley |
| Center | Jarrett Allen |
Point Guard Darius Garland
Garland is a speed guard, one of the fastest players in the entire NBA. He causes matchup problems because of that speed, as most defenders simply cannot keep him in front of them. Entering his sixth NBA season, he has never played in 70 games. But his scoring is up this season, as he is averaging 20.7 points per game, and has become the reliable second option behind Mitchell.
Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell was the prized acquisition before the 2022-2023 season, costing the Cavilers multiple future first-round picks as they outbid the New York Knicks to get him. Mitchell's stats are slightly down from last season, yet he is still the top option in this offense, and the guy that makes it hum.
Small Forward Max Strus
Strus has been in the league for five seasons, and in his sixth, he has evolved into a full-time starter after finally getting the chance last season. So far, he has been a key contributor in this offense, being a secondary option on offense behind the big stars, and doing his part on defense.
Power Forward Evan Mobley
Mobley is always a top option to win DPOY by most Ohio sportsbooks. He was the third overall pick of the 2021 draft and is an accomplished 23-year-old who averaged 15.0 points as a rookie and 15.7 points last season with 1.4 blocked shots and .9 steals per game, showcasing his abilities as a terrific two-way player. His rim-protecting defense alongside Jarrett Allen makes the Cavilers a tricky matchup for every opponent aside from Minnesota, who the Cavaliers play only twice.
Center Jarrett Allen
Allen is an elite shot-blocker who the Cavaliers were fortunate to acquire when the Brooklyn Nets were going all-in on James Harden and traded away several of their best young players. Tip of the hat to Koby Altman for making that trade. Allen has thrived so far in his fifth season in Cleveland, averaging 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while shooting 70 percent from the field.
Who Is on the Cleveland Cavs' Bench?
| Position | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Point Guard | Ty Jerome | Donovan Mitchell | Craig Porter Jr. |
| Shooting Guard | Sam Merill | Max Strus | Isaac Okoro |
| Small Forward | De'Andre Hunter | Isaac Okoro | Javonte Green |
| Power Forward | Dean Wade | De'Andre Hunter | Javonte Green |
| Center | Evan Mobley | Tristan Thompson | Dean Wade |
De'Andre Hunter is the newest addition to the Cavaliers, as they acquired him in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. So far, he is averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench since joining the Cavs. The other four players on the bench are pretty solid. Ty Jerome has been good, averaging 12 points per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor. Meanwhile, Sam Merrill and Isaac Ikoro have been solid on both ends. Dean Wade is usually the backup center but has been out for weeks with a knee injury but may return soon.
The Cavs have dominated the Eastern Conference this season, with competition only from the Celtics and the Knicks. The rest of the Eastern Conference, from the fourth seed to the eighth seed, is competitive, and the Cavs may face the Atlanta Hawks or even the Magic again. A first-round showdown with the Miami Heat is also not out of the question.
And if you want to make any of these players the nominal "captain" of your fantasy season, be sure to check out our story about funny fantasy basketball names.
Who Is the Cavs 6th Man?
Hunter is the guy, and the trade for him is a bonafide victory for the Cavaliers, who needed a talented and experienced guy to take over the reins as the sixth man. For years, he was one of the most productive players for the Hawks. Now, he will bring his experience to the Cavaliers and give them the extra weapon they need. He is on the board at ESPN BET for NBA Sixth Man Award odds.
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Get to Know the Cleveland Cavs' Front Office
| Position | Staff Member |
| General Manager | Mike Gansey |
| Head Coach | Kenny Atkinson |
| Associate Head Coach | Johnnie Bryant |
Who Is the Cavs' Head Coach?
Kenny Atkinson is the head coach after the Cavaliers hired him before the season began, following the firing of J.B. Bickerstaff. He is in his first season with the Cavaliers. Prior to this season, he served as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, and served as an assistant coach for the past four seasons for the Golden State Warriors.
Who Is the Cavs' General Manager?
Gansey was a very good high school player who finished runner-up to LeBron James for Ohio's Mr. Basketball at Olmsted Falls H.S. He played in the D-League and in the Summer League for the Heat and Clippers but never made it to the NBA. He was G-League Executive of the Year for the Canton Charge in 2017 before joining the Cavaliers' front office, where he was promoted to GM a year ago under president of basketball operations Koby Altman.
Cleveland Cavaliers Depth Chart FAQs
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
