The Cleveland Cavaliers made news this week when they signed C Jarrett Allen to a contract extension. Earlier this summer, they signed Evan Mobley to a second contract, meaning every member of the so called “Core 4” are signed for the long term.
And everyone is aware that Donovan Mitchell re-upped with the franchise on a three year deal for a ton of cash.
That doesn’t mean none of the contracts are tradeable, but we digress. Broadcaster Jim Rome used to say players can’t “self-gloss”. meaning they shouldn’t give themselves a nickname, and we feel this way about the “Core 4”.
Heck, former Cavs’ GM Jim Paxson somehow got rid of Shawn Kemp’s bloated contract, so it is possible.
The Cavs organization has started calling them that, and our problem is they haven’t accomplished enough to earn that moniker. Winning one playoff series simply doesn’t do it.
And the organization is paying them a whole lot of cash to a group that again, has never advanced beyond the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Another thing that concerns us about the Cavs’ front office is their insistence the team is young. The reality is Cleveland is 16th in the NBA in the average age of the players, ranking between Atlanta and Sacramento with the roster averaging 26.2 years of age.
Two playoff teams rank in the top 10 youngest rosters: Oklahoma City is 2nd at 23.4 years old, and the team Cleveland defeated in the first round, Orlando is 4th at 24.0. That’s why fans and the front office should be concerned about finishing in the top four this upcoming season. Orlando will no doubt improve.
The Cavs should also worry about Indiana passing them in the standings, as the Pacers are the 11th youngest squad and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season.
Of the ten oldest rosters in the league, all but Chicago had winning records a year ago, but none of the teams in that group would be considered “up and coming” because of their age.
Cleveland has only six players born after the turn of the century and of that group, the only ones who get significant playing time are Mobley and Darius Garland. Mobley is beginning his fourth season, and Garland is entering his sixth.
Everyone is expecting Mobley to make a leap at some point and without a doubt he has improved, but in his first three seasons, his per game averages in points have been 15.0, 16.2, and 15.7, and his rebounds have been 8.3, 9.0, and 9.4.
If he doesn’t show dramatic improvement this season, we fear this is what he is, a very good, solid player, but not an all-star.
Many people say he can’t get better because of the presence of Allen, and we will agree to a point. We will see how new coach Kenny Atkinson handles the duo offensively before saying having them both on the floor doesn’t work.
Garland’s stats tumbled last year, but we would attribute that to injuries, but he’s also now been in the league for five seasons. How many players make a big leap in performance after five years?
And of course, we also wonder about the fit between him and Donovan Mitchell. And when we say that, we aren’t insulted anyone’s talent, but in basketball, the pieces have to fit together.
In our minds, this is another reason the Cavs should not run it back in 2024-25. They aren’t a young team. At this point, the players are who they are.
Don’t believe the young team stuff spouted by Koby Altman and his staff. It’s a myth.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 