The Cavaliers’ future is uncertain without LeBron James. Kevin Love is leading the charge in Cleveland now and the hope is that he can lead the Cavs back to the playoffs. Although there may be some hope in Cleveland, not many outside of Cleveland share the same sentiment.
In fact, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report is predicting the Cavs to go 30-52 this season. That would certainly leave Cleveland on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The fate of the organization is in the hands of the aforementioned Love and promising rookie Collin Sexton. If the Cavs are going to remain competitive after the departure of LeBron James, it’s up to Love and Sexton to carry the heaviest burden.
Of course, Sexton may not play starter’s minutes at the beginning of the year, but he should come on as the season progresses.
The 30-52 record seems low, especially in the diluted Eastern Conference. The Cavs should benefit from playing in the weaker conference, but it’s unclear just how well this roster will gel.
The Cavs decided to try and stay competitive when they inked Kevin Love to a hefty contract extension. They may have been better served to trade away Love, Kyle Korver, and others in an attempt to go for a full rebuild. Instead, they could be doomed to years of mediocrity.
Regardless, how well the Cavs perform in 2018-19 is up in the air. Losing LeBron James completely changes the dynamic of the team and it’s unclear how the rest of the roster will respond.