CLEVELAND, OH — Thanks to their blockbuster trade for NBA All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, could the former Utah Jazz standout be the final piece to something special?
Mitchell, 25, was acquired via trade for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-pound picks and two pick swaps, joins a young Cavs squad that already had two All-Stars in PG Darius Garland and C Jarrett Allen as well as Rookie of the Year runner-up, Evan Mobley.
With a projected starting lineup that’ll consist of Garland and Mitchell in the backcourt and the forementioned Allen, Mobley and 2020 first-round pick Isaac Okoro/Caris LeVert at small forward, Cleveland can now be considered a legit playoff contender in what is a suddenly-stacked East.
Where exactly do the Cavs fit amongst the proverbial pecking order remains to be seen, but just based on the current roster, one can make the argument that Cleveland is anywhere from five-to-seven. One would have to put the defending Eastern conference champion Boston Celtics at No.1 with the Milwaukee Bucks second, Miami third and Philadelphia fourth.
Again, there is plenty of argument for Cleveland to be as high as fifth, but with contenders such as Toronto, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Washington and Chicago, the young Cavs will have to come out the gate early and play some exceptional high-level basketball if they hope to clinch their first postseason appearance in the post-LeBron era.
Not to say that it can’t be done, and thanks to their recent taste after losing to the Nets and Hawks in the Play-In Tournament, the Cavs may finally be ready to make some noise this season.