In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.

Pre Draft

• Cavs and Nets agree to a deal involving Bridges and Schroder for Garland and the 20th pick

  • Explanation: Cavs get the coveted 2 way wing and pair his size and defensive abilities next to Mobley and Mitchell long term.

• Cavs extend Mitchell to a 5 year max with a no trade clause.

Draft

• No draft picks after trading their 20th to the Nets

Free Agency

• Cavs target front court depth by going after the best rebounder of the best decade giving Drummond a 3 year 40 million dollar deal with the last year being a player option. This uses their full MLE but with 13 players already under contract it's reasonable

• Cavs add more veteran front court depth bringing Tristan Thompson back on a 1 year deal for the minimum

• Cavs target another ball handler who can shoot for the minimum in Damien Lee and bring him on a 2 year deal with the 2nd year as a player option

Non Decisions

• Cavs and Mobley essentially agree to wait on an extension to allow for more growth from Mobley before giving him a max extension

• Trading Allen was an option but they decide to hold onto him for at least the first of half of the year

Start of Season

Starting lineup:

• Mitchell

• Bridges

• Strus

• Mobley

• Allen

Off the bench they lean on Scroder, Levert, Merrill, Niang, and Drummond. They still keep some of the helpful pieces from this past season in Craig Porter Jr and Dean Wade involved a bit but sporadic minutes at best.

During the season

They start the season strong with a top 5 defense all year. Allen isn't traded and the team ends as a 2nd seed in the East.