Cavs 2022 Offseason Recap
November 4, 2022
The Cavs’ 2021-2022 season was a year filled with breakout seasons for young players such as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarret Allen. This progression, combined with the veteran presence of players like Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio and sharpshooting of 7’0 SF Lauri Markkanen, led to the team being a surprise playoff contender. Even with the Cavs’ surprising success, the season came to a close with a painful 107-101 loss to the Trae-Young-led Atlanta Hawks. Many Cavs fans were left to wonder what the team would look like leading into the next season to vault them into the playoffs.
After a shockingly successful season, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and General manager Mike Ganesy have been buyers this offseason. The Cavs acquired a total of seven players this offseason, from the draft, through trades, and via free agency.
The Cavs selected 4 players in the 2022 NBA Draft. Below is a report on each of them.
Ochai Agbaji
| COLLEGE:
Kansas |
AGE:
22 |
HEIGHT:
6’6 |
SELECTED
14th |
POSITION
SG/SF |
| REPORT: A wing guard/forward out of Kansas, Agbaji was drafted to be the wing the Cavs have been searching for since Lebron left. In four years with Kansas, Agbaji averaged 14 points and 4 boards per game, with a standout senior year where he averaged 18 and 5. Agbaji led the Cavs in summer league play, averaging 15 points and 31 minutes. Pairing that point production with an average of 3 assists and 4 rebounds per game, Agbaji was an obvious standout of the Cavs summer league. However, Agbaji was dealt to the Utah Jazz along with Colin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and 3 first-round picks in return for Donovan Mitchell. | ||||
Khalifa Diop
| COLLEGE:
Gran Canaria |
AGE:
20 |
HEIGHT:
7’0 |
SELECTED:
39th |
POSITION:
C |
| REPORT: Coming in at 7’0 ft, 231 lb, Khalfa Diop has the natural size to be a dominant center. Diop has played in foreign leagues for multiple seasons and is still considered a raw talent. President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced that Diop would not be with the Cavs organization for the 22-23 season, and would continue his development playing in Spain. Former Cavs player Jose Calderon is tasked with advising him. Diop is obviously not an NBA-ready player, but his size and previous performances are promising, and fans should remain optimistic about his future. | ||||
Isaiah Mobley
| COLLEGE:
USC |
AGE:
22 |
HEIGHT:
6’10 |
SELECTED:
49th |
POSITION:
PF/C |
| REPORT: Brother of Evan Mobley, a rookie standout last year for the Cavaliers, Isaiah Mobley is an exciting talent out of the University of Southern California. Through three years at USC, Mobley averaged solid numbers, highlighted by his senior year where he averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 27.9 minutes, and 0.9 blocks per game. Along with Agbaji, Mobley was another summer league standout, averaging 8.8, 8, and 3. Mobley will most likely float between the Cavs and their G-League affiliate, the Canton charge. If Isaiah shows a fraction of the talent of his brother, he will be a key role player for the Cavs in the future, or even a star. | ||||
Luke Travers
| OUT OF:
Perth |
AGE:
21 |
HEIGHT:
6’8 |
SELECTED:
56th |
POSITION:
G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travers, a surprising draft pick out of the Australian NBL, will play the 2022-2023 season with his former team, the Perth Wildcats. Most NBA analysts were surprised with the Cavs’ selection of Travers, as he was one of the lowest-rated guards on the board. Travers, an NBL Rookie of the Year finalist last season, averaged 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 per game. Not a standout by any measure in summer league, Travers averaged 6.6 points, 4.6 boards, and 1.8 assists in five games. Travers’s development in the NBL this year will determine his future in the NBA. | ||||
Along with making four selections in the draft, the Cavs were also very active in the trade market and free agency. The Cavs signed a total of two players, and made a splash in the trade market, sending over a load of players and picks in return for Donavan Mitchell. Below are our reports on players acquired in free agency or via trades.
Donovan Mitchell
| PREVIOUS TEAM:
Utah Jazz |
ACQUIRED VIA:
Trade |
AGE:
26 |
HEIGHT:
6’1 |
POSITION:
SG/SF |
| Donavan Mitchell is one of the best young wingers in the NBA. At just 26 years old, Mitchell is already a three-time All Star. Averaging 23.9 points per game last year, Mitchell can carry the scoring load alongside Darius Garland. Mitchell will likely remain a perennial all-star, and he should be one of the Cavs’ most dynamic and exciting players to watch this season and for the foreseeable future. | ||||
Robin Lopez
| PREVIOUS TEAM:
Orlando Magic |
ACQUIRED VIA:
Free Agency |
AGE:
34 |
HEIGHT:
7’0 |
POSITION:
C |
| Brought in to provide depth behind Jarrett Allen, Lopez should prove to be a solid bench center, and can be expected to see ample playing time when the Cavs face physical paint players. Last year for the Magic, Lopez averaged 7.1 points, 3.1 boards, and 1.5 assists in 36 games. Lopez is on the back end of his career, but he can still be expected to contribute off the bench. | ||||
Raul Neto
| PREVIOUS TEAM:
Washington Wizards |
ACQUIRED VIA:
Free Agency |
AGE:
30 |
HEIGHT:
6’1 |
POSITION:
PG |
| With Ricky Rubio still recovering from a Torn ACL, Neto will be the Cavs main point guard off the bench. Last year, Neto averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 assists in 20 minutes per game for the Wizards. Neto provides veteran guard depth behind a still young Cavs backcourt of Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro. | ||||
The Cavs have made the moves necessary to be a competitive team in the Eastern Conference this year. With a starting five consisting of three all-stars under the age of 26, and a core group of veteran players, the Cavs have set themselves up to be serious contenders.
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