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Cleveland Cavaliers: Where the franchise stands heading into the 2018 offseason

By Brandon Osborne

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Breaking down where the Cleveland Cavaliers stand as a franchise heading into the 2018 NBA offseason

The Cleveland Cavaliers started the 2017-18 season against their former point guard Kyrie Irving, who requested a trade during the 2017 offseason, and the Boston Celtics. It ended much like last season, at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. 

The loss of Irving made the Cavaliers a much less dangerous team. Despite LeBron James having one of the best individual seasons in NBA history, the Cavaliers looked nothing like a team that could win the NBA title.

Cleveland went 50-32 in the regular season but entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference fourth seed. The Cavaliers would need seven games just to escape the first round against Indiana but would sweep the top seed Toronto Raptors in the next round. Cleveland would then survive another seven-game series by defeating the Celtics 4-3 en route to a fourth straight NBA Finals appears (for the Cavs). 

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The Finals would not be as close as the Cavs were swept by the Warriors. James had one of the best postseasons in NBA history but his team was nowhere near talented enough to pull the upset.

Numbers

  • Record: 50-32
  • Off Rtg: 110.6
  • Def Rtg: 109.5
  • Pace: 100.06
  • EFG%: .547
  • Net Rtg: 1.0

Starting 5

  • George Hill: 9.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.8 APG
  • J.R. Smith: 8.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.8 APG
  • LeBron James: 27.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.1 APG
  • Kevin Love: 17.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 APG
  • Tristan Thompson: 5.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.6 APG

Draft picks and free agency outlook:

The Cavaliers enter free agency with the biggest question mark of any team. LeBron James is the NBA’s best player and he’s entering free agency and it appears that he is leaning towards leaving the Cavaliers for a better opportunity at a championship. The Cavaliers need LeBron and if he leaves they could decide to blow up the roster and start a rebuild.

As for the draft, the Cavaliers own the 8th pick so they should be able to get a player that could potentially start from day one. Or, they could couple that asset with Kevin Love to try to make their roster more attractive before LeBron makes his free agency decision. 

Burning question: Where will LeBron James go?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be the talk of the NBA for the next several weeks until free agency starts. James is one of the games all-time greats and the Cavaliers immediate success is tied to what his decision is.

Must Read: NBA Rumors: 5 landing spots for Kevin Love if LeBron leaves the Cavs

Outlook:

Should the Cleveland Cavaliers keep James, they are still a team that can be expected to make the NBA Finals but if LeBron leaves the Cavaliers will be a bottom 10 team in the league and likely be in next year’s lottery – and potentially many after that. 

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