Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. David Richard-Imagn Images

Biggest potential flaw for Cavaliers ahead of 2024-25 season

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 10/16/24

Donovan Mitchell's decision to sign a contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers has removed some of the uncertainty surrounding the organization. The veteran guard has spent the past two seasons remaining tight-lipped over his future. With Mitchell now locked in moving forward, Cleveland should play with renewed freedom.

Kenny Atkinson's addition as head coach will also be an interesting subplot to the upcoming campaign. Atkinson is known to favor a free-flowing offensive style, which could bring the best out of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, among others.

However, after a quiet summer, Cleveland's lack of high-level depth at the end of its bench should still be a concern. Yes, Atkinson has a reliable nine-man rotation at his disposal, but if injuries occur, there will be concerns about whoever steps into the second unit.

The Cavaliers’ starting lineup this season:

Darius Garland
Donovan Mitchell
Max Strus
Evan Mobley
Jarrett Allen pic.twitter.com/LQU6lIzr1e
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) October 4, 2024

Without reliable depth in the middle and end of the bench, Atkinson will likely stick to a nine- or 10-man rotation. Still, that leaves a wide margin for error if the Cavaliers show signs of injury or burnout during the season.

The Cavaliers front office has done a great job of building a contending-level team. They made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. However, if they want to take another step forward in their bid to challenge for a championship, they must look to add another veteran or two to help bolster the second unit.

Top-heavy teams often find themselves walking on eggshells during the regular season. Given the improvements around the East this summer, if the Cavaliers can't secure a favorable seed, they may struggle to make an impact once the playoffs begin.

Perhaps some in-season trades or some work in the free-agency market can help plug the gap. If so, Cleveland will be a legitimate threat to the Boston Celtics' crown in the upcoming campaign.

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