The Cleveland Cavaliers will open training camp next Tuesday with a reshaped roster and their highest expectations since the LeBron James era.
Key Offseason Moves
Trades and signings: Cleveland sent former lottery pick Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Lonzo Ball, lost reserve guard Ty Jerome to the Memphis Grizzlies, and re-signed sharpshooter Sam Merrill. The front office also brought back forward Larry Nance Jr.
Returning core: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland anchor the lineup, while Max Strus, De’Andre Hunter, Ball, Merrill, Dean Wade, and second-year wing Jaylon Tyson bolster depth. Nance Jr. rejoins a frontcourt that already features Mobley and Allen.
Championship Talk
During a recent conversation, Nance Jr. said he believes the Cavaliers can compete for a title this season. Inside the organization, the baseline goal is a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, though some around the team insist reaching the NBA Finals is a realistic target.
Questions Ahead
Health remains a primary concern—Garland and Strus are both coming off injuries—and the team’s ability to match postseason physicality is an open question. New head coach Kenny Atkinson is tasked with steering the revamped group through an 82-game schedule and, the Cavaliers hope, into June.
Training camp opens in one week, giving Cleveland its first on-court look at a lineup built to contend immediately.
Source: Hoops Wire
