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ESPN nearly gets the Top 100 right when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers

By Chad Porto

Mar 14, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) smiles after a basket during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) smiles after a basket during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have six players in ESPN’s top 100.

ESPN has released their Top 100 NBA players for the upcoming NBA season, giving six of those spots to members of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Representing the Cavs on the annual list are Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and Kevin Love.

All six men deserved to be in the Top 100 for sure. There are some minor gripes I have, like Allen being behind Deandre Ayton on the list, Love being as low as he is, and Mitchell not being in the Top 10, but those are minor gripes.

The biggest one is not new and has been shared by everyone and their neighbor. Now I’m joining in on it.

"24. Donovan Mitchell36. Evan Mobley46. Darius Garland52. Jarrett Allen80. Caris LeVert97. Kevin Love"

How is Tyrese Maxey ahead of Darius Garland?

This is just, mind-numbingly dumb. To see Garland, an All-Star, behind the likes of Tyrese Maxey is just dumb. It invalidates the entire list, that’s how dumb it is. I understand guys like DeJounte Murray being within earshot of Garland, and while I think Garland is better than Fred VanFleet and even a current-era Klay Thompson, they have titles and therefore get a bit more extra from the consideration pile.

Yet, Maxey? Sure, he’s got potential, he’s no slouch but that’s a case of potential overproduction. He’s got some nice numbers on a team where he’s the fourth option, sometimes fifth even. So yes, his production is fine but what happens when James Harden starts demanding more shots? Will he be able to continue his hot hand? Who knows, and that’s exactly why he shouldn’t be higher than Garland, the Cavs’ No. 1 option.

The Cavs got Mitchell, sure, but Mitchell is third on this team at the earliest. Mobley and Garland are the faces of this franchise. Mitchell may one day be a face, but he has to prove he wants to be here long-term. Garland was the catalyst for the team’s impressive 2021-2022 season. He was an All-Star and led the Cavs to their first winning season since 1997 without LeBron James.

And he gets placed behind the 76ers 4th scoring option.

Someone tried to be clever with their evaluation and failed.

Next. Who is the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers heading into 2022-2023?. dark

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