The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offseason has landed in rough territory, and The Athletic has made that plain with a D+ grade - one of the lowest marks handed out this summer.
That judgment comes after a stretch in which the rest of the Eastern Conference appeared to move past them. Cleveland was bounced from the Eastern Conference Finals far too early after getting outplayed by the New York Knicks, and the expectation was that the Cavs would respond with a major move of their own. Instead, other teams around them made the loudest noise.
The Miami Heat added star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Bucks also looked improved overall. The Philadelphia 76ers made a huge jump as well by bringing in Jaylen Brown, a move that instantly turns them into a real threat in the East.
Those are the kinds of additions Cleveland could have used. Instead, the Cavs stayed quiet and appeared to be banking on a future run at LeBron James in free agency.
So far, that approach has left them with a thin resume for the summer. Cleveland lost Dean Wade and Keon Ellis, extended Donovan Mitchell on a sizeable contract, and drafted Meleek Thomas. None of that adds up to the kind of aggressive push a team in their position seemed to need.
The Athletic’s grade could still change, though, and dramatically. If James ends up signing with the Cavaliers, the D+ would rise all the way to an A-.
The reasoning is simple: James would give Cleveland a strong wing presence who can defend, create off the dribble, and score aggressively. One move would completely reshape how this offseason looks.
Without it, this summer is shaping up to be remembered as one of the franchise’s most disappointing in recent memory.
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LeBrons Next Move Just Put Cavaliers Fans On Edge
LeBron James is in the final stages of his free agency process, and the familiar pull of a championship chase is once again hanging over the league. He has made it clear he wants to land with a team built around winning habits and a culture that matches his own expectations, which is why the list of possible destinations has become such a closely watched part of the conversation.
For Cavaliers fans, the intrigue is obvious because Cleveland remains in the mix alongside Miami and Philadelphia. There is still no confirmed decision or timetable for when James will choose, so the suspense lingers for a fan base that knows better than most how quickly a familiar storyline can turn into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Got Pulled Into Another Wing Move Waiting On LeBron
Jonathan Kuminga has quietly become one of the more interesting names in the wing market, and Cleveland is right in the mix as teams look for ways to add size and athleticism on the perimeter. Reporting from The Athletics Dan Woike has linked the Cavaliers to the former Warriors forward, with the idea being that he could give the roster a different kind of option on the wing if the price makes sense.
The catch is that this is still part of a larger waiting game. The Lakers have been connected to Kuminga since late June, but their momentum has apparently cooled, and the broader market is still being shaped by LeBron James free agency situation. For Cleveland, that means the path to a move may depend less on urgency than on whether the rest of the league finally starts to move. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Could Revisit A Familiar Veteran As LeBron Buzz Grows
Clevelands offseason planning is still taking shape, and the front office has more than one veteran name in the mix as it tries to keep its roster flexible for what could be a pivotal summer. One familiar possibility is Kevin Love, who spent nine seasons with the Cavaliers and was part of the 2016 championship run, giving the organization a proven piece with real franchise history if the sides decide a reunion makes sense.
The bigger backdrop, though, is LeBron James and the uncertainty around his future, which continues to hang over any move the Cavaliers might make. If James decision pushes Cleveland toward a more aggressive approach, the team could revisit other veteran additions as well, including a likely new deal for James Harden, leaving the Cavs with a few different ways to reshape the roster before opening night. [Read more 🡒]