Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Cleveland Cavaliers

ElectricMayhem · Post #1 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:15 am

The Cleveland Cavaliers were the surprise team of the league for much of the season but limped but literally and figuratively to the finish line. We shall now cut them open and see what's inside...

Here is the data from last year's Post-Mortems:
Post-Mortem Results I: GM Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results II: Coaching Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results III: Performance Compared to Expectations
Post-Mortem Results IV: Rising/Treadmill/Waning

Team Name: Cleveland Cavaliers
Record at Time of Death: 44-38 (.537)
GM: Mike Gansey (2022-) (Koby Altman POBO)
Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (2020-)

Offensive Rating: 20th
Defensive Rating: 5th
Rebound %: 12th
Turnover %: 27th

GM: Change or keep?
Coach: Change or keep?
Relative to expectations, how did they fare this year?
Rising, falling, or treadmill?
If you were in charge, what would you do this offseason?

Notes:
Players under contract next year:
Kevin Love ($29m)
Jarrett Allen ($20m)
Chris LaVert ($19m)
Lauri Markkanen ($16m)
Darius Garland ($9m)
Evan Mobley ($8m)
Cedi Osman ($7m)
Isaac Okoro ($7m)
Dylan Windler ($4m)
Lamar Stevens ($2m) (Partially Guaranteed)

Team Options:
Dean Wade ($2m)

Player Options:

Free Agents:
Collin Sexton
Ed Davis
Rajon Rondo
RJ Nembhard Jr.
Moses Brown
Brandon Goodwin

Dead Money:

Previous Post-Mortems:
30. Orlando Magic
29. Detroit Pistons
28. Houston Rockets
27. Indiana Pacers
26. Oklahoma City Thunder
25. Washington Wizards
24. New York Knicks
23. Portland Trailblazers
22. Sacramento Kings
21. Los Angeles Lakers
20. Charlotte Hornets
19. San Antonio Spurs
18. Cleveland Cavaliers

ropjhk · Post #2 » by **ropjhk** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:17 am

Heartbreaking end to the season but they should be proud of what they accomplished. Cavs got a bright future.

Post #3 » by **MoneyTalks41890** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:21 am

Keep the GM. I think firing the coach would be reactionary but I wouldn’t hate it.

Okoro+14 for a real wing, let the big three youngins grow.

ElectricMayhem · Post #4 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:21 am

Wow, someone is really saying Cleveland performed worse than expected this year? They were the surprise team in the league before injuries derailed them.

Ballerhogger · Post #5 » by **Ballerhogger** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:22 am

Damn let wound stop bleeding at least! Lack of shooting losing Rubio, hopefully they consider trading lauri for some wing shooting. Or draft one. …

Van_Trump · Post #6 » by **Van_Trump** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:24 am

They literally have nothing to be ashamed of and have a bright future.

KembaWalker · Post #7 » by **KembaWalker** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:30 am

LeVert was such a bad trade, only black mark on otherwise surprisingly good year

meekrab · Post #8 » by **meekrab** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:30 am

Gotta keep the front office and see what they can do with a talented young core.

None of their top 5 in minutes played is older than 25, Sexton is 23, Osman and Levert are only 26 and 27. Love finally expires next summer and they can make a run at a max free agent wing to put next to Garland Mobley and Allen.

Jadoogar · Post #9 » by **Jadoogar** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:34 am

ElectricMayhem wrote:Wow, someone is really saying Cleveland performed worse than expected this year? They were the surprise team in the league before injuries derailed them.

Yea those people have to be trolls. No one expected Cleveland to even make it this far.

ElectricMayhem · Post #10 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:35 am

The Cavs surprised the league. Then Sexton went down. And they still kept winning. Then Rubio went down. They kept winning. Losing Allen was the final straw. They limped to the finish line without JA in the lineup. He came back for this one, but wasn't 100% and the team was a bit out of rhythm. They still almost had it.

Overall, it was a great year for Cleveland. I really wish they had remained healthy all year because Rubio worked great with the team. However, they were able to show that even with just a healthy Garland/Mobley/JA core, they can be a playoff team. With Sexton off the books (only $6m, but still), they should be able to add something considering he provided them with nothing this year. The youth will grow. Love's $29m comes off the books in a year (though they'll have to pay Garland). Anyway, they are suddenly in a good place. Good for them.

Post #11 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:51 am

ElectricMayhem wrote:Wow, someone is really saying Cleveland performed worse than expected this year? They were the surprise team in the league before injuries derailed them.

It's Realgm. There's always one or two.

Post #12 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:53 am

KembaWalker wrote:LeVert was such a bad trade, only black mark on otherwise surprisingly good year

Luckily, we're keeping the pick.

kieferli · Post #13 » by **kieferli** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:53 am

Can’t blame them, injures killing them, they did well this season . I think espn only said they only have 26 wins

Los_29 · Post #14 » by **Los_29** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:55 am

Okoro, Mobley, Garland and Allen will come into next year better than this year. They are a team on the rise although I do have some concerns with their roster makeup.

MrGoat · Post #15 » by **MrGoat** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:13 am

Keep everything. This team is rising and was the surprise team of the year except for maybe Chicago before injuries caught up to them as well. Super young core too. Jarrett Allen hasn't even turned 24 yet and he's the guy people consider the vet on the team

Roger Murdock · Post #16 » by **Roger Murdock** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:20 am

Should be pretty uncontroversial

Keep GM (he's great)
Keep Coach (hes good and bad)
Rising Team
Overacheived

Short term JB is great. Every young player is showing lots of growth and development, everyone respects him, and the team plays hard. In 2-3 years when we are ready for title contention we need someone who is better at executing in-game, where he struggles.

Also this is the second year in a row we came out to start the season with a system and by end of the year we play PnR/ISO ball rather than a team game. Injuries definitely led to this both times but its concerning.

Hugi Mancura · Post #17 » by **Hugi Mancura** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:25 am

I don't think they should do big player changes. I would try to resign Sexton. Last year Sexton was more effective than Levert have ever been, so as an offensive player Sexton is all ready a better player. Then try to bring Rubio back and max Garland. Depending how season is going use Love, Osman and Levert (or Sexton if it doesn't work) ending contracts to bring some bigger name. No free agents will sign with Cavs in summer of 2023 anyway, so might as well try to get good players with trades.

Then the biggest change. Bickerstaff. He isn't a good NBA playoffs coach. I think he is good enough to help Cavs to reach playoffs, but he will never win series in playoffs as head coach. He is incapable to do changes during the game and that is very important skill in NBA coaching. I think he is best used as a defense assistant coach. Would I give him a chance to coach next year? Yes, but if team fails to go pass the first round in playoffs then I would sign new coach.

slickrickstyles · Post #18 » by **slickrickstyles** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:27 am

As a Pacers fan this is very disheartening...Really wanted that pick for Caris considering Rubio will never play in Indiana (or should he really)

cavs4872 · Post #19 » by **cavs4872** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:34 am

Need an option for firing whoever came up with the play-in... someone remind me we live in a universe where lower seeds make the playoffs over higher seeds.

Also, nice profile OP... I love the Muppets.

XtremeDunkz · Post #20 » by **XtremeDunkz** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:24 am

1. What does the Sexton contract look like? Plus how does he fit with Garland who took the next step in his absence?

2. Can Levert go back to his Nets form after fizzling out big time at the end of the year?

3. Can you get a good vet to sign to provide some stability to a pretty young lineup?

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