Since pulling off a blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers have become one of the most talked about teams in the NBA. They were already on the rise following an impressive last season, but the addition of Mitchell has taken expectations off the roof.
With the addition of the All-Star guard, the Cavs roster is stacked. Along with the backcourt of Darius Garland and Mitchell, they still have promising players in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Despite still being a younger team, they are viewed as a dark horse team to be a threat in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland has only been relevant during the time LeBron James was on the roster. For the first time in nearly two decades, they have put together a contending group without the services of the All-Star forward. During a recent episode of the “The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst opened up on the new era of the Cavaliers:
“They haven’t made the playoffs without LeBron since 1998. The idea that they’re gonna have a team that is competitive without LeBron James is something that nobody who’s younger than 48 can possibly remember.”
Can the Cleveland Cavaliers be a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference?
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