Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff went over the Cavs depth as he spoke with the media following a Thursday practice.
“I think, as we go through the season, everybody’s going to get a look, because that’s just what happens in the NBA season,” Bickerstaff said, via a Thursday video from the Cavaliers. “We could easily go 11 deep. I think what you do is, and you look around at teams that have kind of done that, is certain guys may find three or four-game blocks. If they keep it rolling, they keep going. Then you rotate because you know you’re going to need guys throughout the season.
“I’m really comfortable with the entirety of our roster. Everybody on this roster can help us in some way.”
Cleveland’s bench ended the 2022-23 regular season with an average of 16.1 minutes per game, according to NBA.com. The figure put it behind the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat for 28th place in the NBA. The Cavs bench logged an average of 11.6 minutes per game during the NBA Playoffs, putting it in last place among teams that made the postseason.
The Cavs bolstered their bench with the signings of forward Georges Niang, guard Ty Jerome and center Tristan Thompson in the offseason. They acquired center Damian Jones from the Utah Jazz in exchange for cash considerations in July. They brought back guard Caris LeVert, who played in 74 games and started in 30 for the Cavs last season, on a two-year contract in free agency.
“I mean, again, the 11th guy will find his minutes throughout the bulk of the season,” Bickerstaff said when asked if he was now ready to change to an 11-man rotation. “It’s difficult to get to 11 guys of consistency in a 48-minute game.
“But that 10th man can rotate between whoever that 11, 12, 10 guy is. I think that’s where that guy will find his minutes.”