2012-13 Season Review
Record: 24-58
Scoring margin: -4.7 (26th overall)
It was a strange season for the Cavs. Injuries aplayed a big role, particularly an early season-ending medical scare for outstanding center Anderson Varejao (blood clot in the lung, nothing to be taken lightly) and some nagging issues with budding (budded?) superstar Kyrie Irving. Youth and lack of depth on the wings also submarined any chances at a playoff appearance, but generally the Cavs were a tough out. Head coach Byron Scott was ousted in favor of the man who had his job only three seasons ago, Mike Brown. This appears to signal a divorce from any plans to woo back LeBron, as his relationship with coach Brown is apparently strained (or worse).
Team Strengths
Kyrie Irving was spectacular offensively, albiet in only 59 games. It remains difficult to judge his playmaking ability due to the lack of talent around him, and his defense remains among the worst in the league. But there is no doubt that he is a franchise player.
Last year's lottery pick at #4 overall, Dion Waiters had an up-and-down rookie year. He was pretty good at getting to the line and managed a decent overall scoring rate, but he was not efficient (41/31/74 shooting splits). Without a reliable outside shot, defenders can play off him and make it difficult to drive.
Tristan Thompson, another #4 overall pick (2012) showed signs of at least being a rotation player. He proved to be durable, a good rebounder, and good at getting to the line. His FT% improved from 55% to 60%, which is still fairly terrible. If he can push that up into the 70s and continue getting better on defense, he's a pretty valuable player.
Team Weaknesses
It is unclear if Irving and Waiters are a good complement in the backcourt. Waiters may be better served as a career sixth man, but they need him to play big minutes on this team due to lack of wing depth. Varejao's future with the club is uncertain, and he would be difficult to trade because of his complicated health picture.
If they win the lottery...
... the Cavs will likely take Nerlens Noel. This team is practicing patience and favors long-term growth over quick fixes, so Noel is a great project for them. They can then focus on him and Thompson and their front court of the future and try to build up Varejao's trade value while waiting for Noel to heal up.
If they don't win the lottery...
... GM Chris Grant will be looking at a top 5 pick. Maybe the third year will be a charm for the fourth overall pick to Cleveland? This draft shakes out well for them, as most of the top prospects are not point guards, the one spot they have set in stone. For the most part, these young men project as complementary players rather than stars, which is not ideal but better for a team like the Cavs who are building up a new foundation.
Anthony Bennett just had shoulder surgery, but should be good to go to start the season. His inside scoring presence would be a welcome addition to this team.
Ben McLemore paired with Irving could be one of the top outside shooting backcourts outside of Golden State. He figures to be a much better complement to Irving than Waiters. His lack of star-level leadership, a negative for most lottery teams, is much less problematic on a team with a clear franchise player already in place.
Otto Porter is a jack-of-all-trades type wing player, and also projects as a complementary guy. The wing situation is so dire on this team, he could be of tremendous value just soaking up minutes and playing defense. Not a super sexy pick, but solid.
Alex Len has size and skill, providing an inside weapon for Irving. Similar to Noel, having Len would allow them to shop Varejao for wing depth or draft picks.
Dark horse alert: Dario Saric (F, Croatia) and Shabazz Mohammed (F, UCLA) are the best wing players after Porter. If Otto is off the board, the Cavs may reach a little for one of these long, athletic scorers. Saric is younger, so he may have the edge.
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