For many years after Andrew Berry took over as Browns’ GM, people were noting that he didn’t cut any of the players he drafted. Part of that was when he got the job, the Browns weren’t very good, but it is understandable that if you draft a player, you see the reasons you chose him.
Therefore, you give them the benefit of the doubt.
On the other hand, we have been around coaches who love players from afar, and if and when they get them on their team, all they see are the warts.
So, we understand that Koby Altman has a certain fondness for the players he has brought into the Cavaliers’ organization. But we also think it’s fair to ask if he can evaluate them without bias.
In Kenny Atkinson’s introductory press conference, the new coach referred to coaching “four all-stars”. We bristled at that.
First, only three of the current Cavaliers have made an all-star team: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen. Despite the organization’s wishes for Evan Mobley, who Altman picked with the third overall pick, he has not made one.
And while technically, Garland and Allen have made the team, they made it once, and they made it during the 2021-22 season, which will be three seasons ago when the new season starts.
Garland was comparable to his all-star season the following year, but last year, injuries caused his numbers to drop. And you know how we feel about starting two smaller guards and how it affects things defensively.
Allen was an injury add on in 2022 but was in the discussion to make it to the mid-season classic last year when he averaged a career high in points at 16.5 per game.
Mitchell is an all-star, making the team five times. It may be semantics, but Garland and Allen are players who made an all-star team, we would not consider them perennials.
The elephant in the room is Mobley. We know everyone is high on him, but it is fair to point out his progress has been slow. He averaged 15 points and 8.3 rebounds as a rookie, and although his shooting has improved from 50.8% as a first-year player to 58% last season, his scoring went from 15.0 to 16.2 to 15.7.
Granted, some of that is due to his role (or lack of one) in the offense. The player taken right after him, Scottie Barnes averaged 15.3 a game in his rookie season and 19.9 last year.
What if Mobley is just a real good player, an excellent defender, but not quite an all-star level player?
It wouldn’t mean writing him off, if he can score 18 points, grab 10 rebounds, block a couple of shots in addition to playing excellent defense, that’s something any coach can work with. But it’s not what many expected after his first year.
The Eastern Conference got better since the playoffs ended. Philadelphia signed Paul George. The Knicks swung a trade for Mikal Bridges. Indiana gained valuable playoff experience.
The Cavs need to get better and although we like Kenny Atkinson, we don’t think that’s enough. The off-season has just begun, but hopefully Altman can be truthful with himself about the roster he has built.
That’s a trait the best executives have.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 