“Significantly… absolutely, Dan is heavily involved,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Good.
Because he has a lot to sort out.
It may be hyperbolic, but the Cavs lead decision maker, head coach, franchise’s best player and most of its core are in limbo. This despite making the second round of the Eastern Conference Finals and attaining the 4th seed in the East in back-to-back years.
The build back has been good. It’s hard to win in the NBA and by post-superstar standards, the Cavs have done it about as well and as quick as any franchise in recent memory (see New York after Carmelo Anthony, Minnesota after Kevin Garnett, Oklahoma City after Kevin Durant).
But, that may not be good enough for Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs organic ascent ended the day the organization acquired Mitchell in a trade two years ago. Mitchell was a player ready and wanting to win now with a roster built for the future – sound familiar to Cleveland fans?
Which is why decisions must be made and they must be made from the top down with alignment at every step.
This is the summer of Donovan Mitchell but really, it’s the summer of Cavs franchise looking at themselves in the mirror and asking: "Who are we?" and "Who do we want to be?"
Koby Altman
It all starts at the top.
Absent in the Jason Lloyd, Shams Charania and Joe Vardon Athletic article chronicling all that went wrong this year was any attention to the one who put JB Bickerstaff in the head coaching chair and the one who put the roster on the floor. Same goes for Chris Fedor’s version of events (which are now somewhat disputed by Mitchell).
It should tell you all you need to do know in who is sourcing these reports but also where Altman’s status may be. We’ve heard Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland’s team next year may depend on where Mitchell ends up, which sources confirm to RealCavsFans.com. But nothing about Altman’s status. It may be a foregone conclusion he is back, but should he be?
The decision is for Gilbert to make but the decision is simple: Fire or extend him.
If you believe in the work Altman has done – working the margins for talent (Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lamar Stevens, Craig Porter Jr); acquiring the franchise pillars through trade (Allen, and Mitchell) and draft (Garland and Mobley); drafting relatively well (which is up for longer debate); parlaying relatively little asset wise to acquire future All-Stars like Allen and Lauri Markannen (which then assisted in acquiring Mitchell) and helping get this team out of the depths of the East, then you extend him.
If you have doubts about what Altman has done – believe his free agencies and trade deadlines have been relatively lackluster (quiet the last two years and Georges Niang was often hard to keep on the court and Ty Jerome couldn’t get on the court); question his preemptively extending Bickerstaff and keeping him after the New York Knicks playoff series; have doubts about his ability to draft (a number five pick on a role player, two late first round picks and little if any production from their second round picks); and struggle to understand how he make the pieces fit, then you fire him.
It's very simple.
There can’t be any middle ground or half measures. Not when trying to align a franchise, and not the future is hanging in the balance this off-season.
Being a Cleveland fan, we’ve seen what half measures can do to a franchise – it can set them back years. Years and upon years of arranged marriages have spoiled the Browns. Hiring a coach first then a general manager. Allowing a general manager to hire a coach on the hot seat only to see both go soon thereafter. Not believing in the process or the coach and inserting yourself into personnel and coaching decisions. The story doesn’t end well.
If Bickerstaff is fired, Altman would be on his fifth head coach (including interims) – not many POBO’s get to survive that many head coaches. At some point, the bell tolls for him as well.
If that’s the case and Mitchell extends, it buys Altman some time, but it’s borrowed time. If the Cavs don’t compete at the highest levels right away Altman could take the blame if they fail.
A little pressure is never a bad thing, right? Well in organizational alignment it is. Especially in this case.
If the lead decision maker is making decisions to keep his job, it’s severely jeopardizes the franchise's integrity. Without a long-term commitment, Altman may not see this through -- he won't prioritize restocking their draft assets or think long-term player potential in a Garland and/or Allen trade. He might just worry more about finding players that can win today or he may not see tomorrow.
Can you understand the predicament that puts the organization?
It’s why outside any Mitchell trade request, any head coaching decision, or any decision on who is the core, it first must be decided with certainty who is deciding all these things.
Gilbert needs to commit to a lead decision maker and allow them to make decisions with the expectation they have the resources to build this team out with long-term sustainability in mind or else they will live to pay the consequences for years to come.
From there, the decision maker will decide what type of team they want to be because it’s been murky on what exactly they are today.
Donovan Mitchell
Once the lead decision maker is finalized, more attention can be paid to things closer to the court. The one holding all that power is Mitchell.
Because Mitchell’s timeline, and that of the core and/or head coach vary to some extent, the Cavs must first understand Mitchell’s position before they make corresponding moves.
If Mitchell’s commitment is secure, you’re in win now mode. You must view the head coach from that perspective (Can the head coach lead the team past the second-round next year?) and must also view the roster that way too. A long-term commitment gives the team flexibility to move previous franchise pillars in Garland and/or Allen knowing the driving force is secured and then those around Mitchell can be rotated out to find better fitting talent.
If Mitchell’s commitment isn’t secured then personnel decisions change and there is a more long-term view looking to align with Garland's and Mobley’s window whilst also having more flexibility for a coach who can grow with this team (i.e. younger, and probably first time head coach).
Despite reports, Mitchell has indicated he is “happy in Cleveland,” and “been happy since I’ve arrived in Cleveland.” It’s not a commitment but it’s a step in the right direction.
Earlier in the year, sources were optimistic Mitchell would extend with Cleveland, much because the financial upper hand the Cavs have, but less confident he would play out the entire extension with Cleveland. To date, confidence in the marriage continuing remains strong. However, if a new direction is chosen for Mitchell, sources have previously indicated the Heat, Lakers, Knicks and Nets would be at the forefront of the discussion.
A superstar’s commitment bestows a certain power in shaping the franchise with their needs and desires in mind. Once the franchise player is confirmed, a communication channel is established to ensure alignment (sense a theme here).
Before Trade Machine’s are whipped out, the Cavs must first be aligned in who their franchise pillars are, and it starts with Mitchell.
JB Bickerstaff
Once a decision maker is making decisions and Mitchell has made his, it will clear the runway for a coaching decision.
A Mitchell led team may prefer securing a veteran coach ready to achieve immediate success and avoid the growing pains of a younger coach. (According to sources, Dan Gilbert was hopeful Mike Budenholzer would make it to the open market once the Cavs season ended but was beaten to the punch by archrival Matt Ishbia. One can only imagine how this adds another chapter to their intense rivalry.) It could also mean a coach with a direct connection to Mitchell such as current Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, who was credited with Mitchell’s development in Utah; or current Dallas Mavericks assistant coach, and former Canton Charge head coach, Alex Jensen who also spent time with Mitchell in Utah. (Jensen interviewed for the Cavs head coach position in 2019.)
A core without Mitchell may keep Bickerstaff, seeking familiarity over the unknown and allow Bickerstaff to continue his work with the young core. This has been provided as a talking point in recent days in particular by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. It could also mean a younger, more innovative coach who may be a bit greener but has the chops over the next several years to elevate the Cavs, particularly on offense. Think Nets assistant coach Will Weaver or Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman.
Initially, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski threw caution to the wind in thinking Bickerstaff’s dismissal was immediate. However, it seems more like agent or team window dressing the situation, trying to pay respect to a head coach who has led the Cavs through an enduring rebuild and managed to secure playoff appearances from the rubble, all the while knowing the likeliest of outcomes.
But, as sources have indicated to RealCavsFans.com, as a coach who was openly telling people he was coaching for his job last year and the lead decision makers going as far as discussing with current assistants who would take over should a dismissal happen, it’s hard to imagine coming back from that.
Additionally, at various points throughout the season players and Bickerstaff were not on the same page. At times, veteran team players were none pleased with Bickerstaff’s coaching which seemed to culminate during early season struggles. By spring, it had been told to RealCavsFans.com that Bickerstaff had lost a majority of the team. Throw the cherry on top of drawing the ire of one prominent player agency for how their clients playing shifts were being handled, and it’s hard to walk back off the plank after all that.
What the Cavs need moving forward is alignment between the front office, core players and head coach to ensure organizational success.
And that’s not to say there hadn’t been up to this point. But as relationships evolve it requires all parties to evolve or those involved can grow apart which is the likeliest case here.
More than anything, Cavs need to establish a philosophy of who they want to be within the modern basketball world. Bickerstaff had established a defensive identity and saw that play out for the most part. However, it was exposed at times this year falling to 25th in defensive rating post-All Star break. Additionally, the offense was never good enough to make up for defensive shortcomings. Over the last two playoffs, the Cavs ranked third-to-last and last in offensive rating.
Today’s NBA is an offensive game where offense wins. Bickerstaff brought in Luke Walton this year to help solve some of the offensive issues. The Cavs regressed in offensive rating during the regular season (8th in 2022-2023 and 16th this year) while showing the same flaws during the playoffs.
The last ten NBA champions have averaged a regular season offensive rating of 6th. Only two teams ranked outside the top-10 with the lowest being the 2021-2022 Golden State Warriors having the 17th best offensive rating – but we all know the true firepower of that team.
Point is, there are some serious questions to be asked about the head coach and in which direction this organization will go in but they can only be properly addressed until other items fall into place.
The players
Before any Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen or Caris LeVert trade is created, it’s meaningless until the rest of the dust settles. While Garland and Allen were once part of the “core four” their future is on uneven footing as the organization looks to prioritize who the building blocks are.
The Cavs know Mobley is one of their building blocks, it’s more so a question of who else is joining him.
Sources confirm to RealCavsFans.com that Allen may have seen his last game in a Cavalier uniform regardless. With Mobley evolving as a primary franchise pillar, the organization must consider what is best for Mobley and its realistic to ask if that’s Allen. Teams like New Orleans, who have long been admirers of Allen and previously inquired with a package centered on wing Herb Jones, will be paying close attention to his availability.
With Garland, much like Bickerstaff, his future may ultimately be tied to Mitchell. The Cavs must reassess if they believe he is the Garland of the previous two years or the Garland of this year and figure out if that’s optimal to win with. If not, sources tell RealCavsFans.com San Antonio, New Orleans, and Houston, amongst others, will be interested in Garland and there will be no shortage of suitors who believe a different coach, situation and better health would suit him well.
All of this gets back to the lead decision maker. His job security has a direct correlation to how these trades will be handled, and if there will be trades. Do you want a decision maker making franchise altering trades if he has no long-term future secured with the team? If your governor doesn’t fully believe in his lead decision maker, do you want him making franchise altering trades?
Any cracks in the foundation now will lead to large chasms later. The alignment must be there from the top down to have a successful offseason.
This is not to paint a picture of doom and gloom but rather there are very real problems that must be addressed. It's much larger than just adding another wing or swapping out a coach. There is a full organizational reassessment required to ensure all parties are in lockstep moving forward.
Once one domino falls, expect the others to fall quickly after.
While Gilbert has largely been in the background as he’s recovered from health issues over the last several years, this offseason puts him firmly in the foreground once again. The direction of this franchise rests in his hands.
The answers to "Who are we?" and "Who do we want to be?" will first be answered by "Who do we have?" and "Who do they want to be?"
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