The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been entirely silent during the offseason, but they have been relatively quiet.
Still, perhaps that is the only route they could have taken because of salary issues that are holding them back.
Writing for The Athletic, Joe Vardon gave the Cavaliers a “B” grade for their offseason adjustments and said that getting an “A” was unlikely.
“An ‘A’ would have followed some surprise trade that made this team markedly better than the one that finished first in the East, but salary realities (read ‘second apron’) made that unlikely. I like the Lonzo Ball acquisition and am glad Isaac Okoro gets a chance in Chicago. I don’t mind not paying Ty Jerome way above market value, given his struggles in the playoffs, and Tyrese Proctor out of Duke made sense to me with the 49th pick. Otherwise, the Cavs simply weren’t in a position to make that splashy trade. They committed to this roster two years ago, and they need to ride out their commitment for at least this season,” Vardon wrote.
The addition of Lonzo Ball is definitely the biggest thing the Cavs did this summer, and fans are hoping it pays off.
He has his issues with injuries, but he could be a helpful bench player who provides great support for the backcourt.
Beyond that, the Cavaliers haven’t done a whole lot, but maybe that is okay.
After all, they were the first team in the East for all the regular season last year, and that counts for something.
The problem with the Cavs is that they didn’t convert all of that regular-season success into playoff accomplishments.
They hope to change that in the season ahead.
Their moves weren’t too flashy, but they were strategic and smart.
Will they pay off in 2025-26, or will Cleveland remain a team that flourishes in the regular season but flounders in the playoffs?
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