The Cleveland Cavaliers are 29 days away from their first preseason game. Here’s your news and links for the day.
The first sip
One thing is clear this offseason: The Cavs intend to (mostly) run it back. Tristan Thompson is returning to fill essentially their last roster spot. Isaac Okoro will still likely return on either a qualifying deal or a new one. This would leave just one roster spot open which is something they’ve left available until after the trade deadline the past few seasons.
The only addition to the main roster is rookie Jaylon Tyson. You could throw Ty Jerome in there too if you wanted since he only played in two games last season. Neither is expected to be in the eight or nine-man rotation when the season starts (assuming Okoro’s contract gets worked out).
This isn’t ideal for a team that was mostly underwhelming in the playoffs despite the series victory. Conversely, they also aren’t one piece away from having all of their issues solved. At least not with what they had to work with this off-season if the goal was to keep the core four intact.
The Cavs don’t have the most depth in the league, but they have multiple bench lineups that work well. Max Strus isn’t a perfect player, but he’s a good enough fit with the core four that the group conceptually functions. Thompson isn’t an ideal backup center, but he won’t be in the rotation if the team is fully healthy. You could keep saying similar things about the rest of the ancillary pieces. It all comes down to their best players.
Running it back isn’t ideal, but changes around the edges were never going to save this team. The core is what will decide the fate of this team.
Random Cavalier of the Day – Brandon Goodwin
Goodwin was one of the guards that the Cavs brought in to replace Ricky Rubio after his injury in the 2021-22 season. Goodwin appeared in 36 games in mostly a reserve role.
His most memorable outing was a 21-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on a night Darius Garland was also out of the lineup. J.B. Bickerstaff started Cedi Osman starting the game at point which led to him picking up 12 assists in the process. Goodwin led the team in scoring coming off the bench that night which included 12 in the fourth quarter. The Cavs went on to win 93-90.
Here’s what I wrote about Goodwin’s performances that week:
Being able to get winning minutes out of someone who started the season in another organization’s G League affiliate is a testament to how well the front office and coaching staff have done this season. Every win is important for the Cavs considering how tight the standings are in the top of the East. Being able to steal a couple wins with Goodwin filling in before additional perimeter help arrives may make the difference in a couple spots in the standings at the end of the season.
Goodwin hasn’t appeared in the NBA since. He didn’t play in the 2022-23 season and spent the majority of last year with the Westchester Knicks in the G League. He is currently playing in Puerto Rico in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league.
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