10 Reasons to Believe: How The Cleveland Cavaliers Can Win an NBA Title by 2015
It's evident that Cleveland is not a good enough team to compete for a championship in the next couple years. However, with the Lakers and Celtics aging and the Miami experiment still an unknown, the future of the NBA is still up for grabs. Promising teams like New Jersey and Oklahoma City will be there, but with Dan Gilbert and Byron Scott running things for the Cavaliers, there's no reason to think that they cannot be in the picture in a half decade. So, what are 10 reasons to think that Cleveland is a future force in the league?
Young Talent
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While there is not the talent of an Oklahoma City in town, there are young pieces that have the ability to blossom over the coming years. Most notable, of course, is J.J. Hickson. However, Christian Eyenga is an athletic freak that has a small chance of becoming a superstar. Samardo Samuels, although not touted out of college, has really come on during the preseason for the Cavaliers. Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson are still the ripe age of 24, and Mo is only 27. All these young players have the potential to become key in a future championship run.
Draft Picks Galore
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The Cavs will have 8 first round picks in the next five years due in part to one, Lebron James. Three of those picks are courtesy of the oft forgotten trade with Miami. In that same time period, they will also have 8 second round picks, assuring that there will be an opportunity to gain 4 to 5 rotation players through the draft (and hopefully a couple studs).
Finally An Offense
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One of the primary weaknesses of the Mike Brown regime in Cleveland was the often painful offense that featured Lebron trying to create, and the rest of the offense just standing there. While James is gone, Byron Scott is the new coach. He has been running an up-tempo offense throughout the preseason and training camp, that has seen some surprising early successes. Byron is an easy upgrade to the slow to react Mike Brown, and the overall coaching situation will be much more positive under the proven winner.
Deep Pockets
4 of 10Dan Gilbert is incredibly committed to his team, as evidenced by his "letter". He is a driven leader that is willing to do whatever it takes to take the Cavs all the way. Cavs' fans should feel comfortable that he will not let the team fall down to a Clipper or Grizzlies like level.
The Veterans
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Five years from now, Varejao, Powe, and Graham will be looked at as a few examples as veterans of the team. Powe, who has already won an NBA championship, can be a prominent contributor for the Cavs off the bench. Varejao is one of the top 15 big men in the league, and will continue to improve the next few years. Finally, Graham, a new addition to the team, will be a defensive presence who will be expected to make the open shot for the Cavs. These three guys can be instrumental in a run for the Larry O'brien trophy for Cleveland.
The Competition
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Five years from now, the best team in the league, the Lakers, will not be the elite team that we know today. Further, Boston, Houston, Denver (who will not have Carmelo Anthony), San Antonio, and Dallas will have fallen off the radar of the NBA's elite. That leaves an opening for younger teams in the league. New Jersey, Oklahoma City, and Miami are three teams that will be rising in the meantime. However, with the management of Dan Gilbert and Byron Scott, don't count Cleveland out just yet.
The Boston Example
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In 2006, Boston was arguably the worst team in the NBA. However, they did have Paul Pierce and a number of draft picks. They used those draft picks and a few young assets to turn around their legacy from NBA laughingstock to NBA champion. They obtained Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and further developed a young Rajon Rondo. All it takes is a couple of well thought out transactions, and the worst team can become the best team in under a year. Cleveland is no different.
Salary Room
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So far, we've told you that Dan Gilbert is willing to spend. We've told you that Byron Scott could be bringing in an explosive system, and we've told you that the Cavs have a number of young assets and draft picks. What's the last thing they need?
They need room to maneuver, or in NBA terms, "cap room". That's exactly what they will have in the coming years with the loss of Lebron James. The only player that who is being payed too much on the team is Antawn Jamison, who in all likelihood will be moved this year at the trade deadline due to his offensive ability and expiring contract. This all gives the Cavaliers plenty of room to improve through the draft, get big name free agents, or hold onto players that emerge for the team.
Winning Attitude
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There is something to be said about the fact that the Cavs have been in a several playoff battles the past few years. Sure, they were led by Lebron, but many of the players on the current Cavs know what a high pressure playoff environment is like. Varejao and Gibson have been there all the way, and Mo and Parker have been there for part of it. The old saying is that winning is contagious: If that's so, the Cavs will be in good shape after the past 5 years in the playoffs.
Motivation
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Lebron is gone. The national media is nowhere to be seen, and the Cavaliers have been written off for the next few hundred years. With all of that said, there is still a professional basketball team on Lake Erie, and professional athletes to not like to be disrespected. Lebron, and 95% of the country have disrespected Cleveland, now is their chance to get a championship against all odds.
