Darius Garland's breakout 2021-22 All-Star season spurred the Cleveland Cavaliers' rise back to NBA Playoffs prominence. While the young Garland and rookie Evan Mobley fell short in the Play-In Tournament, that season's sudden ascension gave Cleveland the go-ahead to chase the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell trade later that offseason.
Now, in the fourth year of the Core Four era, the Cavaliers need direction. The warning of redundancy that the rest of the league has been screaming to the Cavs is seemingly finally coming to a head.
A rough first third of the season has left the Cavaliers depleted.