Cavs crack Top 10 in ESPN Power Ranking

Are the Cleveland Cavaliers a Top 10 team in the NBA? ESPN seems to think so as they have the Cavs just making the cut in their post-offseason power rankings. A group including Kendra Andrews, crybaby Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim McMahon, Dave McMenamin, and Ohm Youngmisuk was consulted when putting together this list. This group ultimately has Cleveland ranked ninth in the NBA. McMenamin provided the information on the Cavs’ entry.

After the franchise’s momentum was stalled with a first-round flameout against New York, the Cavs have had a strong offseason — from adding Max Strus and Georges Niang to rookie Emoni Bates looking like a potential steal in Cleveland’s run to the summer league championship. Still, the biggest question remains if the team can make enough strides next season to convince Donovan Mitchell to extend and make The Land his home. 

Dave McMenamin on the Cavs

The only team in the Central Division to be ranked higher than Cleveland is Milwaukee (2) and rightfully so. The Bucks finished with the best record in the NBA last season and are considered to be on the short list of elite teams. Cleveland is on their way to that level, although a sizeable gap remains currently.

Expectations are high in Cleveland as the Cavs are expected to go from postseason participant to true contender. The front office identified areas of need and hopefully found solutions as noted above. There are some concerns about the length of Donovan Mitchell’s stay in Cleveland, but that is not anything to get worked up about at the current moment. The current focus is on improving now and putting together a deeper postseason run. After that is when working on an extension for Mitchell becomes their top priority.