The Cleveland Cavaliers turned plenty of heads last season.
Replacing J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson proved to be a good move for everybody involved.
The team maintained its defensive identity while taking the offense to a whole new level.
Unfortunately, they still proved to be a little raw come playoff time.
That’s why Koby Altman talked about a very specific profile of player to look for in the offseason, and they’ve done just that in the early stages of free agency.
With that in mind, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report said that the moves they’ve made so far seem ‘prepared.’
“Prepared,” Hughes wrote. “After winning 64 games during the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers ran into playoff trouble and bowed out disappointingly early. Every move they made this summer had to be about improving their playoff preparedness. Lonzo Ball is a perfect example. Despite the risks, Ball could offer a far greater reward than Isaac Okoro […] Ty Jerome was too expensive to keep, but by landing Ball, retaining sniper Sam Merrill for $38 million over three years and bringing back old pal Larry Nance Jr., the Cavs set themselves up to be more competitive in the games that matter most.”
The Cavaliers look like a team on the rise, but they need toughness and grit to get to the next level.
It’s not always about talent or chemistry.
This team needs pesky veterans who are willing to put their bodies on the line and can take over games when it matters most.
Of course, it’s not like they’ve brought in a former NBA champion, but they’ve added two tough players with plenty of experience to bolster a team that’s young and was often bullied off the court.
One could also make a case for blowing up the roster and moving on from players like Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, given their well-documented postseason struggles.
Even so, considering their diminished trade value and the potential return, perhaps they will be better off running it back with this core one last time.
Hopefully, these moves will be just what they need to take them to the next level.
NEXT: Insider Says Cavs Wing Prospect Is 'Trending Up'
