2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2015-16
| Record | Central | East | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57-25 | 1st | 1st | NBA Champions |
Offseason Roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Mike Dunleavy (Trade with Bulls) | Timofey Mozgov (Lakers) |
| Chris Andersen (1/$1.5M) | Matthew Dellavedova (Bucks) |
| Kay Felder (Draft trade with Hawks) | Joe Harris (Nets) |
| Mo Williams (Retired) |
- Re-signed LeBron James (three years, $100M)
- Re-signed Richard Jefferson (two years, $5M)
- Re-signed James Jones (one year, $1.55M)
Projected Starting 5
- PG Kyrie Irving
- SG J.R. Smith
- SF LeBron James
- PF Kevin Love
- C Tristan Thompson
Related: Why LeBron won't catch the ghost of Jordan
Player to Watch: Kevin Love
Head coach Tyronn Lue wants to limit LeBron James' regular-season minutes, and if he convinces the stubborn superstar to spend more time on the bench, perhaps Love can pick up the slack and re-establish himself as one of the NBA's premiere talents.
Related - Love: 'I don't give a s---' about fit with Cavs
There's only so much ball to go around next to The King and Kyrie Irving, and because of that, Love has sacrificed certain aspects of his game to serve the greater good. But his defense is still non-existent, and he's scoring and rebounding at a lower rate. Averaging 16 points and 9.9 rebounds last season was nothing to scoff at, yet having seen Love do so much more in Minnesota (when, to be fair, he was the only show in town), expectations will always be higher.
Love is the scapegoat when things look bad, and a revelation when his shots drop and things go well defensively, such as shutting down Stephen Curry late in Game 7 of the Finals. There's no middle ground with him, and that's unfortunate.
Now that Cleveland is finally a city of champions once again, Love has essentially received a get-out-of-jail-free card. With the pressure off, maybe we'll see him more relaxed, playing within the confines of his game. The spotlight may even shine on him, in an environment where many thought it would be impossible.
Season Expectations
Talent-wise, the Cavaliers are so far ahead of every other team in the Eastern Conference that it almost feels like a waste of time looking for a roster that can beat them. Cleveland could always incur a series of unfortunate injuries, but as we've seen in the past, James is a walking android, impervious to pain, capable of carrying the team on his back if necessary.
It was one thing coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors sans Kevin Durant, but with the former MVP in the Bay Area, James and company will be in for the fight of their lives against one of the most stacked offensive attacks in history.
With all due respect to the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers, the East belongs to the city of Cleveland, with a third straight Cavs-Warriors clash pretty much locked in. What happens in the rubber match is anyone's guess.