The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had a very busy offseason, instead opting to run it back with mostly the same core that won 64 games a year ago but flamed out in the second round. Unfortunately, the Cavs will be without their starting backcourt of Darius Garland and Max Strus to open up next season, which will force head coach Kenny Atkinson to get creative in order to fill those minutes.
Recently, Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman announced that the team will be returning to Florida for the second straight year to conduct their training camp, which will begin later this month.
“Returning to IMG Academy is a testament to the tremendous experience we had there last year,” said Altman, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “The overall engagement, both at the Bradenton facility and throughout the community, was an invaluable part of our preparations.”
Fedor reported that training camp will take place from September 30 through October 5, at which point the Cavs’ preseason slate will be set to begin.
“Being on Florida’s Gulf Coast provided an ideal backdrop for our team to focus, recharge and come together in ways that are hard to replicate outside of Cleveland,” Altman continued. “We look forward to another great training camp at IMG Academy and immersing ourselves into the vibrant cultural scene that Sarasota offers.”
Can the Cavs bounce back?
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The good vibes from the Cavs’ 64-win season a year ago dissipated quickly with the team’s five-game exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs last year.
The Cavs were playing through multiple injuries in that series, with Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter all missing time. It appears that the Cavs’ front office is blaming the loss solely on injuries, as they didn’t look to make any big moves this summer and seem content to run things back with the same core.
In any case, the Cavs’ regular season is set to tip off on October 22 on the road vs one of their biggest threats in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden.
