What Is the Cleveland Cavs' Starting Lineup?
Strus has stepped in as the new starting small forward after playing a strong role for the Miami Heat in their unlikely march through the Eastern Conference Finals and into the championship round against the Denver Nuggets. If he does what he did last season and makes another 197 three-pointers, the Cavaliers will be a better offensive team. Defensively, he may be a step down from Isaac Okoro, last season's starter. But changes happen to every NBA team every offseason, and signing Strus was the Cavaliers' big move.
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 21.6 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?
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 15 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 11.4 points per game while shooting 51.6 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.
It is not out of the question because the Cavaliers can give everyone matchup fits. For Cleveland, it may just come down to their playoff matchup. Last season, they overcame the Orlando Magic in the first round but ultimately fell to the Celtics in the second round. If they are to get the top seed this season, they likely would avoid a second-round matchup with the Celtics. But the question still remains: are they good enough to beat the Celtics in the postseason?
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 end up facing 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
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
Chris Sheridan is a veteran NBA writer who has been covering the league since 1992, with a specialty in international basketball after being credentialed for every Olympics since 1996 in Atlanta. He has been covering sports gambling since 2018.
