After losing LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers had to figure out what direction they were going to take as an organization with this current roster. When they lost James to the Heat in 2010, the organization didn’t have another star player and instead had to tear it all down, becoming the NBA’s worst team by the end of the year. This time around, however, it’s a different story.
On Tuesday morning, the Cavs announced that they had signed Kevin Love to a new, four-year contract extension, signaling to fans that they’re not planning on tanking this season. Immediately following the signing, Love met and spoke with members of the media, where he expressed his excitement about the direction the franchise is going in.
The Cavs and Love may think they’re headed in the right direction, but it’s fair to question the decision-making. Would they be better off tearing it all down and starting from scratch? That may be their best chance at winning a title.
As it stands, they may be good enough to sneak into the playoffs due to the diluted nature of the Eastern Conference. But do they have any chance at knocking off the likes of the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, or Philadelphia 76ers? Unlikely.
If they remain committed to this plan, the consequences are the equivalent of NBA purgatory. Good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to go deep into the playoffs. Thus, the Cavs would stay out of the lottery and have a tougher time adding cost-effective talent to bolster the roster.
But there’s something to be said for fielding a competitive team. Cavs fans saw and went through the lowest of lows with their team after James’ departure in 2010. They then saw their team win the first NBA championship in franchise history in 2016. Will they be content watching a perennial playoff team with little chance of winning a title?
It’s difficult to pinpoint an answer to the question. At the moment, it looks like Dan Gilbert and the Cavs are refusing to commit to a full rebuild.