The Cleveland Cavaliers made a splash at the NBA trade deadline, shaking up their roster by bringing in James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis while parting ways with Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter, and Lonzo Ball. This significant change has left head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff with the task of reconfiguring their strategy from the ground up.
Harden's early impact has been promising, but there's still plenty of work ahead for the Cavaliers to find their rhythm as the season winds down. ESPN's Brian Windhorst has noted that Atkinson is still working on the best way to deploy his new lineup. "They're good problems," Windhorst remarked, highlighting the challenge of finding cohesion among players who are still learning each other's tendencies.
Despite the hurdles, this situation is an improvement over the earlier parts of the season when injuries plagued the team. However, the current challenge of blending new talent effectively is akin to starting from scratch, reminiscent of a training camp scenario.
One notable example of Atkinson's experimentation is moving Jaylon Tyson from a starting role to coming off the bench, allowing Dean Wade to step into the starting lineup. The pairing of Harden and Schroder in the backcourt has also been a point of focus, as the team searches for the right combinations.
In a recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Atkinson made a strategic adjustment by starting Sam Merrill in the third quarter instead of Wade, a move that paid off well. These types of adjustments are crucial following a major roster overhaul, as history shows that such changes rarely lead to immediate championship success.
However, the Cavaliers have the potential to buck that trend. If Atkinson can expedite the integration process, the final 24 games of the season will be pivotal. The team needs to use this time to identify which lineups work best, how players complement each other, and what roles each should play in their pursuit of a title.