The schedule is out, the moves have been made, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are patiently waiting to get started again at the end of September. Sporting a new look in the wing room with Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja, and with the majority of contracts taken care of, it'll be all about business for the Wine and Gold.
James Harden's deal will be finalized soon, but the Cavs first have to figure out how to reroute or waive and stretch Cam Whitmore by Saturday, Aug. 29. Once that is taken care of, there will be a marginal move or two to go forward.
Though the schedule to start the campaign is daunting, it'll be easy to tell right away if Cleveland is serious about contending in the Eastern Conference consistently.
In the latest episode of Courtside with Cavs, Spencer German and I talked about Harden coming to an agreement with Cleveland and what to expect from him and the group next season and beyond:
It's on the Cavs to make sure they follow through on their vision. It's on James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. It's on Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and everybody to make sure that this new version of the Cavs works. Harden's going to be here, like it or not, and I think, at least in the regular season, you're going to see a really solid basketball team. The question is: What happens in April?
Does he fall back on bad habits? Does Donovan Mitchell fall back on bad habits? That's the question that I have. We know that, even with the Eastern Conference being as good as it is, they're going to be a good basketball team. But are they going to be a great basketball team, or a championship basketball team?
Fair or not, the jury is still out on that. While Cleveland took a small step forward last year, it is telling that a conference finals appearance didn't feel as progressive as it should have, and, judging by the trades made this summer, the front office agrees.
Seeing the transactions and tweaks outside of their walls, the Cavs understand that the East is not getting easier, and they'll have to work extra hard to come out on top of a true gauntlet.
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