The Cavs will look to build off an encouraging 51-win campaign. Let's break down three things that they need to do to advance further next season.
Last offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a huge move by trading for four-time All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.
In his first campaign with the team, the Cavaliers showed plenty of promise, finishing with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, they lost to the New York Knicks in the first round. Here are three things that the Cavaliers need to do get farther next year.
Things the Cavs need to do to get farther next year: 3. Re-sign Dylan Windler
Yes, Dylan Windler is not the biggest name, but he can develop into the 3-and-D wing that the Cavaliers need.
In 2021-22, he was an effective perimeter defender, ranking in the 89th percentile in opponent effective field goal percentage and the 86th percentile in opponent points per possession, per Cleaning the Glass.
In college, Windler was known as a knockdown shooter. As a senior, he shot a blistering 42.9 percent from 3 at Belmont. In his limited NBA minutes, that has not fully translated, as he has shot 32.2 percent from deep. However, I believe that number is an anomaly. Last season, he shot 40.7 percent from 3 in the G-League.
Windler can impact the game in a variety of ways. In 2022, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the following about Windler via Chris Fedor of cleveland.com:
"You look at his effort, you look at his energy, you look at what his focus is, and he just goes out and continues to do that."
Windler was only able to play in three games last season due to an ankle injury. If the Cavaliers can re-sign him to a team-friendly contract, the former first-round pick could become a valuable member of their rotation.
Things the Cavs need to do to get farther next year: 2. Trade for Daniel Gafford
The Cavaliers need a backup center. In the first round, the team had problems matching up with the Knicks' big men. Over the series, the Knicks won the offensive rebounding battle 75-46. Having a reliable center off the bench would alleviate some of the pressure on Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
One ideal trade candidate is Daniel Gafford of the Washington Wizards. Last season, the 24-year-old big man averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 20.6 minutes per game. He has played in only one playoff series in his career, which came with the Wizards in 2021 but he is clearly a player on the rise.
Here is a potential Gafford trade:
Rubio played sparingly for the Cavaliers last season. He shot a career-low 34.3 from the field but still averaged 10.2 assists per 100 possessions. The Wizards need a point guard, so they could give him a shot in the rotation.
Merrill's $1.9 million salary is non-guaranteed. So, the Wizards can waive him to free up additional cap space. This trade would save the team approximately $6.1 million this offseason (if they waive Merrill). If they attempt to compete, that cap space could be critical with Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma projected to land massive, new contracts and a harsher CBA incoming. If they blow it up, it would give them more flexibility, as they rebuild their roster.
The Wizards also receive assets in the form of three second-round picks, which is identical to the Rui Hachimura trade, and the draft rights to Australian small forward Luke Travers. Travers was a second-round pick in 2022. Last season, he shot 40.5 percent from 3 in the NBL.
Things the Cavs need to do to get farther next year: 1. Don't panic
Sometimes the best move is to stand pat. While it is tempting to make a splashy move, the Cavaliers have a well-constructed roster with championship potential.
The core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen carries an average age of 23.75. Furthermore, 2023 represented the first playoff minutes for Garland and Mobley.
In their first year together, the new core led the Cavaliers to a 51-31 record, while boasting the best defensive rating in the NBA (107.3).
The front office does not need to panic. Next season, the roster will have more time to build chemistry and should continue to be contenders in the Eastern Conference.
This offseason, all they need to do is tweak the supporting cast around the nucleus.