Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson would not be four-time NBA champions as members of the Golden State Warriors if it weren't for Kevin Durant, at least according to Green.

During a live show Tuesday that promoted both his and JJ Redick's podcasts, Green said the Dubs "would not have beat the Cavs coming back around without Kevin [Durant]" in 2017 and 2018.

Green explained further (h/t Jack Maloney of CBS Sports):

"I personally don't think at that point Steph Curry had figured out 'I'm going to get a bucket whenever I want to.' I don't think he was capable of that yet, I think he was still growing into that. Because of that, once teams started to figure our offense out, we were starting to struggle more and more. I'm not sure if you remember that series with OKC where we were down 3-1 and had to come back. That's because teams had started to figure it out.

"What then in turn ended up happing was, Steph still creates all the havoc he creates. Like I tweeted, Steph faced so many double teams and Kevin didn't. That's a fact. You can go look at the numbers or just watch the game. If you watch the game then you see that Steph's getting double-teamed, and then [then-Cleveland Cavaliers head coach] Ty Lue goes publicly and says 'I'm double-teaming Steph Curry every chance I get.' Kevin wasn't getting double-teamed.

"The reality is, we got to a point where we needed to be able to give someone the ball that can just go get a bucket. Kevin was already there. I don't think Steph was there yet. So, it gets us through those two years. We get those two championships. While we're doing that, Steph is continuing to work and evolve, and most importantly, becoming the strongest dude on our team. To this day he's the strongest guy on the team. That allowed him to score whenever he wanted because you can no longer bump him off his path."

Green does have a point in his comments about the 2017 NBA Finals.

While Curry averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 9.4 assists and 2.2 steals, he was often double-teamed and not really able to open up his game. For comparison, he averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the 2022 Finals against the Boston Celtics.

That said, Curry has gotten much stronger and has become an even better player since the 2017 Finals.

Still, Cleveland's decision to double-team Curry gave Durant many open looks against a Cavs team that included Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Love. Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks in that series.

In the 2018 Finals, the Warriors were dominant, sweeping the Cavaliers, and it's quite possible the Dubs would have defeated Cleveland without Durant because the Cavs traded Irving to the Boston Celtics and weren't the same dominant team they once were.

While Green spent time reflecting on the past, he also discussed the possibility of James and Irving teaming up again for the Lakers in 2022-23 in an interview with Lucas Shaw of Bloomberg:

"With LeBron James, if you give them someone like Kyrie… they'll have a chance because of the way Kyrie can score the basketball. LeBron will only put him in a position to do that. Kyrie has not proven to be a great leader. LeBron will put an umbrella over that. If you can do what you're good at, you have LeBron leading.

"They could contend, but they won’t beat us."

The rumors of Irving potentially joining the Lakers were squashed when the veteran point guard opted into his player option for the 2022-23 season.

Still, Green obviously isn't worried about potentially matching up against James and Irving again in the postseason, even without Durant.

Collin Sexton received a qualifying offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

He will now be eligible for restricted free agency if he turns down the offer, which would guarantee him $7.2 million for the upcoming season.

Sexton is among the most electric young guards in the NBA, but he is coming off a lost season of sorts because of injury.

In 2021-22, Sexton missed all but 11 games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. When Sexton was healthy and playing, he averaged 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 three-pointer made per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 24.4 percent from long range.

Cleveland selected Sexton with the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA draft out of Alabama, and he was coming off a career year entering the 2021-22 campaign.

In 60 games during the 2020-21 season, the 23-year-old averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers made and one steal per contest while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

While Sexton was excellent individually, it didn't result in winning basketball for a Cavs team that struggled to a 22-50 record and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

The Cavs were much better in 2021-22, going 44-38, which led to questions regarding whether he would be back next season.

Another reason why Sexton's return was in flux is the presence of guard Darius Garland, who is a similar player in many ways.

The Cavs selected Garland fifth in 2019 out of Vanderbilt, and he broke out with a career year in Garland's absence, averaging 21.7 points, 8.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals en route to his first career All-Star selection.

Cleveland also acquired guard Caris LeVert in a trade with the Indiana Pacers this past season, making Sexton even more expendable.

Despite that, the Cavs made a play to potentially keep Sexton in the fold for the 2022-23 season, giving them even more backcourt depth and production.

It also gives Cleveland a trade chip should it decide to move on from Sexton for another asset.

After just missing out on the playoffs this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently scheduled to pick No. 14 overall in the 2022 NBA draft on Thursday.

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, the Cavs are "open" to moving back in the first round if they can acquire a future first-round pick.

It's unclear from the report if Cleveland has targeted a specific player in the draft who might be available later in the first round.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projects the Cavs to select Kansas' Ochai Agbaji with their top pick in his latest mock draft.

There have been questions about the long-term fit between Collin Sexton and Darius Garland as backcourt mates.

Per Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, Sexton is expected to have multiple suitors as a restricted free agent this summer, but the Cavaliers have confidence they can re-sign him at a price that makes sense for both sides.

The roster foundation is incredibly strong with Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen all under contract for at least the next two seasons. Garland was named to the All-Star team this season after leading the team in scoring average (21.7 points per game) and assists (8.6).

The Cavaliers were one of the NBA's most pleasant surprises from the 2021-22 season. They won a combined total of 60 games in three seasons from 2018-21 after LeBron James left to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Thanks to improved play from recent lottery picks, some shrewd trades by the front office and the selection of Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, Cleveland went 44-38 and made the play-in tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

It marked the first time the Cavs finished over .500 without James since the 1997-98 season (47-35). They lost to the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament to miss the postseason, but the season as a whole was a huge step forward for the organization.

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly have interest in re-signing guard Collin Sexton and bringing back guard Ricky Rubio in free agency.

In his 2022 NBA draft guide, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported that league sources say the Cavs are interested in both guards, although he opined that plans could change if a quality guard falls to Cleveland in the draft.

O'Connor projected Wisconsin's Johnny Davis to the Cavaliers at No. 14 overall as a backcourt complement to Darius Garland.

Sexton is set to be a restricted free agent. While some thought the Cavs would let him leave because of the presence of Garland, that may not be the case.

Cleveland selected Sexton with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 draft, and he has established himself as one of the best young guards in the NBA offensively.

After being a second-team All-Rookie selection in 2018-19, Sexton raised his level of play the following season, averaging 20.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 three-pointers made and 1.0 steal per game.

He was even better in 2020-21, playing All-Star-caliber basketball with averages of 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers made and 1.0 steal, all career highs in a full season.

Expectations were sky high for Sexton entering the 2021-22 campaign, but it was essentially a lost year for him, as a torn meniscus in his left knee cost him all but 11 games.

In Sexton's absence, the Cavaliers improved from 22-50 to 44-38 and narrowly missed the playoffs, falling in the play-in tournament.

Garland, meanwhile, became an All-Star, averaging career highs across the board with 21.7 points, 8.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals per game.

Both Garland and Sexton thrive with the ball in their hands, so it is fair to question if they can coexist over the long haul.

Rubio is a more natural complement to Garland. The 31-year-old veteran is a playmaker and quality defender rather than an offensive dynamo.

The 2009 No. 5 overall draft pick is an 11-year NBA veteran who has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Cavs, averaging 11.1 points, 7.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 665 career games.

Rubio appeared in 34 games for Cleveland last season in a backup and complementary role to Garland, and he matched his career high with 13.1 points per game and set a new career high with 1.7 trifectas made per game while averaging 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

The Spaniard was thriving, but a torn ACL cut his season short, and the Cavs traded him to the Indiana Pacers in the deal that brought Caris LeVert to Cleveland.

Rubio is likely to miss some of the 2022-23 season, but based on how well he worked with Garland, it is easy to understand why the Cavs would want to bring him back as an unrestricted free agent.

The Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards are reportedly among the teams expected to pursue Collin Sexton in free agency.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported the Pistons and Pacers are perceived as the "biggest threats" to land the Cleveland Cavaliers guard. The Wizards would have to add Sexton via a sign-and-trade due to their cap situation.

Sexton is set to become a restricted free agent after failing to reach a contract with the Cavs by last October's rookie extension deadline. He averaged a career-low 16.0 points and 2.1 assists in 11 games before suffering a season-ending torn meniscus.

The Cavaliers reached the play-in tournament without Sexton, as Darius Garland thrived in the lead guard role. Cleveland also acquired Caris LeVert in February, which could lower the chances of the team being aggressive to keep Sexton around.

The Pistons and Pacers are two of the only teams capable of having meaningful cap space this summer, and both are expected to be active on the guard market. Jalen Brunson will probably be above Sexton in the free-agent pecking order after a postseason breakout, but a smart team could look to pounce on Sexton early before his market rises.

It's possible Brunson will wind up with a new contract that dwarfs the one given to Sexton. Over a larger sample of games, it's hard to argue that Brunson is a significantly better player than Sexton, but recency bias and injury history will be a factor.

The Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers are reportedly the "biggest threats" to poach shooting guard Collin Sexton from the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

The San Antonio Spurs also reportedly "have some Sexton fans in their front office."

Sexton, 23, is set to be a restricted free agent after missing all but 11 games during the 2021-22 season following a torn meniscus in November.

The guard had a career year in 2020-21, averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and a steal per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three.

But there are real questions about whether a small backcourt of Sexton and Darius Garland, both standing 6'1", can hold up defensively come the playoffs, even with defensively stout big men like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen behind them.

Garland is clearly the point guard of Cleveland's future. He was an All-Star this past season, posting 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three.

There's little doubt Sexton can score, but Garland's playmaking means he'll be the man with the ball in his hands. So how much will Cleveland be willing to pay for an undersized, off-ball scoring threat?

Per Fedor, "The sense I get is the Cavs are more comfortable in the $15-18 million range while Sexton's camp is eyeing something around $18-22 million."

He added: "Sources say Cleveland's front office doesn't believe there is a team willing to give Sexton a contract north of $20 million annually."

If a team does exceed $20 million, though, will the Cavs match? They currently have an active roster cap of $123.8 million, per Spotrac, putting them just above the projected $122 million salary cap before signing any incoming rookies.

Kevin Love will come off the books after his $28.9 million cap hit for the 2022-23 season, so the Cavs may not be too worried about one season over the cap. But a major Garland extension is on the horizon, too.

It wouldn't be shocking to see the Cavs let Sexton sign elsewhere if his asking price remains prohibitively high, given those considerations and his questionable fit next to Garland.

As for Sexton's potential suitors, all three are rebuilding around young cores, so adding a jolt of instant offense would make sense. Sexton would likely play off the ball for all three teams, with Cade Cunningham handling the point in Detroit, Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana and Dejounte Murray in San Antonio.

And if those teams are willing to offer Sexton a big contract, they might just pry him away from the Cavs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Luke Walton as an assistant coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

In addition to his 10 years of playing experience in the NBA, Walton has been a head coach across six seasons. Most recently, he was with the Sacramento Kings in 2021, getting fired midway through his third year following a 6-11 start.

The 42-year-old rose quickly through the coaching ranks.

By his second season on the Golden State Warriors' staff in 2015-16, he was deputized as the team's interim head coach with Steve Kerr unavailable. He guided the Warriors to a 39-4 start before Kerr returned.

The Los Angeles Lakers hired him as their replacement for Byron Scott the following offseason.

Walton brings a lot of experience to Cleveland's bench, something that will be beneficial as the Cavs attempt to climb to the next level in the Eastern Conference.After winning 44 games and qualifying for the play-in tournament, this will be the first season the franchise enters a season with genuine expectations since LeBron James left for the second time.

For Walton, this is an opportunity to earn his third crack at a head coaching job. Given his age, it's not implausible that he could return to that role one day, though his stock took a hit from his time with the Lakers and Kings.

Walton has a 166-241 career record, and his tenure in Sacramento went particularly poorly.

Any success Walton enjoys in Cleveland will reflect positively upon him and help to undo some of the damage to his coaching reputation.

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly hope to sign Caris LeVert to an extension this offseason, as the guard has just one year remaining on his contract.

"From what I’ve heard, Cleveland would like to keep LeVert. That’s why they traded for him with that intention," Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported.

An executive predicted LeVert will make about $20.5 million per season on a new deal and believed "Cleveland will pay him that," per Scotto.

The guard averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 assists in 19 games with the Cavaliers after heading over in a February trade from the Indiana Pacers. Cleveland gave up a protected first-round pick, veteran guard Ricky Rubio and a pair of second-rounders in the deal.

LeVert was inconsistent with the Cavs over the final few months of the season, although he did average 18.7 points per game across 39 starts with the Pacers to begin the year, scoring 42 in his final game before the trade.

The 27-year-old averaged 20.2 points per game in 2020-21 and is capable of taking over games when he gets hot.

As Collin Sexton is a restricted free agent this offseason, LeVert could remain the backcourt scoring threat needed to take pressure off Darius Garland.

Cleveland still must be concerned about LeVert's injury history, as he's played more than 60 games just once in his six-year NBA career. He missed time because of a foot injury in 2021-22 and finished the year with just 58 games played.

LeVert is set to make $18.8 million in the final year of his contract in 2022-23, but the Cavaliers might be cautious about throwing around more guaranteed money in a new deal.    

Having boosted his stock with the Golden State Warriors, Andrew Wiggins might see his NBA career come full circle.

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor told Michael Scotto on the HoopsHype Podcast that the Cleveland Cavaliers need to improve on the wing this offseason. Fedor went on to report that Wiggins is "one that I’ve heard kicked around inside the walls of Cleveland."

He added that Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff "would love to coach" Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley as Cleveland looks for a backup for Darius Garland.

Cleveland was one of the season's biggest surprises. The franchise posted its first winning record (44-38) since LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. The Cavs also qualified for the play-in tournament.

Now comes the hard part for general manager Koby Altman.

In Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers have three building blocks. Assembling the right supporting cast will be critical for getting the franchise to the next level.

Wiggins, who was the No. 1 pick in 2014 by the Cavs and was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves that summer in a package for Kevin Love, would be a clear upgrade at the 3 over Isaac Okoro, who might be too one-dimensional to serve as a regular starter. 

Okoro isn't much of a scorer (8.8 points per game) or a distributor (1.8 assists per game), and he doesn't make up for it by being an effective long-range threat (55 made three-pointers at a 35 percent clip).

Getting Wiggins out of the Bay Area will be more difficult now, however, than it would've been last summer. The 27-year-old has remade his game to become an excellent supporting player behind the Warriors' Big Three of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Likewise, Conley is signed for two more years and continues to play at a reasonably high level. He averaged 13.7 points and 5.3 assists per game and shot 40.8 percent from beyond the arc this year.

Fedor speculated the Cavaliers might look to send Caris LeVert to Utah in the event Conley is made available by the Jazz, who could reshuffle the roster following a disappointing first-round postseason exit.

Even if Cleveland doesn't land Wiggins or Conley, Altman appears to be taking an aggressive approach this offseason and isn't content to simply run it back with the current squad.