Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to the coronavirus, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the worst record in the Eastern Conference standings. The Cavs had a lowly mark of just 19-46.
The second-post LeBron James era has somehow gotten off to a worse start than the first one. The Cavs have seen several different coaches stroll the sidelines since LeBron left for the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018.
Since Tyronn Lue was fired in October of 2018, Larry Drew, John Beilein, and J.B. Bickerstaff have coached the Cavs. Beilein was an utter disaster for the Cavs, so much so it took Bickerstaff less than 11 games to earn an extension from owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Koby Altman. The energy has been so much better under Bickerstaff, who guided the Cavs to a record of 5-6 before the season was suspended.
The 2019-20 season has been one giant circus for the Cavs. Besides Beilein being terrible, Kevin Love had a big outburst toward Altman, and the franchise traded for Andre Drummond at the trade deadline, acquiring the All-Star big man from the rival Detroit Pistons.
Drummond has a player option for next season worth $28.8 million and he’s expected to pick it up no matter what team he’s on. Yes, there have already been rumors that the Cavs could trade Drummond in the offseason, whenever that is going to be.
If the 2019-20 season is over, here are three moves Altman should consider making.
3. Trade Kevin Love
Love would have liked to get traded to a contender at the NBA trade deadline. However, the Cavs All-Star and his agent knew it probably wasn’t going to happen, according to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report. Love made 28.9 million this season. He has three years left on his contract after this season ends.
The longer the Cavs wait to trade love, the lower his value will continue to drop. Cleveland isn't going to get a grand return for Love because he's not a game-changer who can put a team over the top at this stage of his career.
This isn't the Kevin Love the Cavs acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2014 for Andrew Wiggins. This is a 31-year-old Love who has undergone numerous surgeries since arriving at Cleveland and played in hundreds of playoff games. He's got a lot of mileage on his body.
Love appeared in 56 games for the Cavs before the season was suspended. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. Love will always be a Cavs legend, but it's time for him to move on and continue his career elsewhere. He deserves to play for a contender and the Cavs should find one that will give them some draft picks for the former UCLA Bruin.
2. Don't re-sign Tristan Thompson
Thompson becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Neither Tristan nor the Cavs should have an interest in getting a new deal done.
Thompson will be 30 next season. Like Love, Double T is better suited to play for a playoff team. The Cavs almost traded Thompson at the trade deadline, but couldn't get a deal done.
Cleveland is building around Drummond (if they don't trade him), Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman, and Kevin Porter Jr. Thompson and Love don't fit with the timeline of the Cavs anymore.
1. Sign a wing
The Cavs signed Alfonzo McKinnie to a multi-year contract in February. However, Cleveland would be wise to sign another small forward to create a good competition between McKinnie and Porter Jr.
Right now, the Cavs just have a team full of guys running around with no clear identity. That should change moving forward under Bickerstaff.
If Cleveland plays the offseason right, they could have a 2020-21 starting lineup of Sexton, Garland, Porter Jr., a talented wing from free agency, and Drummond.
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