Cavs: Who should be in the team’s 10 man rotation for 2021-2022
By Chad Porto
The Starters
PG Darius Garland
This makes the most sense. While Ricky Rubio could seemingly run a better offense and is a much better passer, Garland is showing improvement as a shooter, something Rubio hasn’t. Rubio is a good scorer in his own right but Garland is nearly a decade younger and it makes more sense to roll with him.
SG Collin Sexton
In my perfect world, I bring Collin Sexton off the bench as the sixth man and just have him sprint across the court, killing the opposing team’s second unit. But fans think having Sexton as the Cavs Manu Ginobli is an insult, whatever. So we’ll start him, even though he could have far more control and more scoring opportunities on the second unit.
SF Isaac Okoro
He’s the starter until he proves he can’t score, or until Cedi Osman proves he can. Okoro has to take the biggest leap in improvement this year because potential will only ever get you fired.
PF Lauri Markkanen
While a lot of people are going with the idea of letting Evan Mobley start, Mobley played terribly in the summer league and was playing against pretty weak talent in the Pac 12. The idea that Mobley is ready to start is already a questionable decision, let alone him be a better option over Lauri Markkanen. Who you just paid a boatload of money for to be a reserve. So, no, we’re starting Markkanen and Mobley can earn his time like any other rookie.
C Jarrett Allen
Unless you’re considering Mobley, the team has no other true center on their roster. Even if Allen was an overpay, he’s the only guy they have left who can actually play the position. This is another reason to bring Mobley off the bench, so he can spell both Markkanen and Allen.