The Cleveland Cavaliers won 48 games before being eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs last season.
Given that the Cavaliers didn’t really do much to improve their roster this summer, many imagine a similar fate for the club next season.
But do we sleep in Cleveland?
Bleacher Report’s NBA Team compiled a list of 10 wild-card teams that could potentially compete for a championship in 2025, and the Cavs made the list.
Not only did the Cavaliers qualify, but B/R’s Dan Favale seems pretty optimistic about their chances.
“Next year’s Cavs are better and deeper than their opening year,” Favale wrote. “There’s no way a team with four All-Star players all in or near their prime could have peaked in its inaugural season. And if the very flawed version of Cleveland managed to win 48 and make a playoff run last year, imagine what a healthier, more talented, and more optimized version of that team can do.”
Favale cites Cleveland’s continuity as a big reason why it could end up being a much better team next season and also mentions the excellent net rating of the “top four” during the 2022-23 campaign, which has certainly been a much healthier year for the team than last season.
The Cavs have definitely been hampered by injuries in 2023-24, with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley each playing fewer than 60 games.
Of course, the question is whether or not the Cavaliers can overcome their shortcomings in an improving Eastern Conference.
Cleveland still has some notable issues, like questionable floor spacing up front, a lack of size on the wings and a limited ability to create shots outside of Mitchell and Garland.
The Cavs haven’t really addressed those issues this offseason, focusing instead on extending Mitchell, Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Restocking your own players is certainly a good thing, but ignoring some obvious issues is not a recipe for success either.
We’ll see if the Cavaliers can have a more successful season in 2024-25.
