The Cleveland Cavaliers might be the worst team in the NBA. With that said, they still have some positivity for the future. Despite coming off of a shoddy win total in 2019, the Cavaliers have acquired some pieces that could make them better in the future. While the record might not change, and the Cavaliers will almost certainly lose as many as 63 games again, the Cavaliers should be fun to watch at times.
The Cavaliers’ over/under lies at 24.5 wins. Only the Hornets have a lower total. I would advise that you take the under as this Cavs team is incredibly young and will likely not win more than 20 games.
Despite the negativity that could surround the team, there are a handful of players that Cavs fans should be happy to see on the floor in 2020.
The first of this list of players is Collin Sexton. As a rookie, Sexton struggled mightily for the majority of the season, posting advanced stats that rank him as one of the worst players to ever play basketball. However, after the All-Star break, Sexton turned it around and nearly earned a spot as a First-Team All-Rookie. After the All-Star break, Sexton averaged a robust 21 points per game on 48% from the field and 41% from three. Sexton had games that he scored 25 points on multiple occasions and had a handful of games with more than three three-point shots. While Sexton might not be as consistently good as he was down the stretch, he should be a much better player in 2020. After posting a slash line 16.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, Sexton could push the 20 points per game mark in 2020.
Darius Garland is the second member of the Cavs who should be watched with a close eye in 2020. The 2019 fifth overall pack, Garland played minimally at Vanderbilt in his only season in college. Following in the footsteps of his father, Winston Garland, Darius is an electric 6-foot-2 guard who has an eye for a jump shot. Despite not playing many games at Vanderbilt, Garland flashed his ability as a shooter and as a scorer for the Commodores. He averaged 16 points per game on 48% from the three-point line in five games. While five games is not a large enough sample size to base his professional projection, Garland will show flashes as a rookie. He might not be a First-Team All-Rookie player, but Garland should develop into a solid player in the future.
Kevin Love could be traded at some point during the season, but as of now, he is still with the Cavaliers. The five-time all-star struggled in 2019 as he only shot 38% from the field and 36% from three. While he made 90% of his free throws, his scoring was the lowest since his second year in the league. Love also was only able to suit up for a total of 22 games. If the Cavs want to win more than 20 games, Love will have to be on the floor for the majority, if not all, of the Cavaliers’ games this season.
Jordan Clarkson should be the leading scorer for the Cavs this season. After posting 17 points per game in 81 contests last season, Clarkson should take another step up in his second full season with the Cavaliers. If he can improve upon 45% from the field and 32% from three, Clarkston will likely average close to 20 points per game this season. Despite being on a bad team, Clarkson should be in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award by the end of the season.
Cedi Osman averaged 13 points per game for the Cavaliers last season, starting in 75 matches. He flashed potential as a three-point shooter, knocking down almost 35% of his looks. Osman should be a good wing for the Cavs this season as he has some semblance of a playmaking ability as evidenced by his 2.5 assists per game last season. While he is by no means an All-Star-caliber player, Osman should make some nice plays throughout the season.
The second of three first-round picks in the 2019 draft, Dylan Windler will start the season injured as he was ruled out for about a month with a left tibial stress reaction. Once Windler returns to the court, he should make an immediate impact, albeit a small impact. A four-year college player, Windler averaged over 21 points and 10 rebounds last season for the Belmont Bruins. He will likely not replicate those rebounding numbers or their scoring numbers in the NBA, but he should be a fairly effective shooter and scorer in the time that he plays as evidenced by his 40% from the three-point line and 54% from the field.
The final first-round pick from the Cavs in the 2019 draft, Kevin Porter should have a solid season. Despite only playing in 21 games across one season at USC, Porter still has a decent level of potential. Only 19, Porter should be able to grow into a decent guard in the NBA.
Season prediction
As much as I love the Cavaliers, I do not expect this unit to surpass 20 wins. I think they will finish with a record of 18-64 and be among the worst teams in the NBA. They might not be as bad as Charlotte, but the Cavs are poised for the future rather than the present. In terms of leading scorers, I expect Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton to compete for most of the season as both push 20 points per game. Kevin Love could return to All-Star form, but I anticipate that he will be traded just before the deadline. He could end up in Portland, Miami, or any number of other cities looking to get over the hump. I expect Garland to place on an All-Rookie roster, but I am not willing to predict that he will be on the First-Team roster.
Win prediction: 18-64
Top scorer prediction: Collin Sexton, 19.4 PPG
