In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The sixth team we will review is the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For the last two decades, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the tales of two different teams–they have been marvelous with LeBron James, and disastrous without. Heading into the 2021-22 season, there are no significant expectations that the Cavaliers will drastically improve from their record of 22 wins and 50 losses from a year ago.
From a fantasy perspective, there are four Cavaliers players worth considering in the middle rounds. They are Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, and Jarrett Allen.
The best option seems to be Sexton. The guard who can be used as a shooting guard and point guard, had career highs last season in points per game (24.3), assists per game (4.4), and field goal percentage (.475). However, Sexton might be better suited as a shooting guard rather than a point guard, because he doesn’t have high totals in three-points made, rebounds and assists. Last season he was ranked 13th in the NBA among point guards with 1902 fantasy points*.
Like Sexton, Garland had career highs in points per game (17.4), assists per game (6.1), and field goal percentage (.451). Despite having fewer fantasy points than Sexton, Garland had more assists, steals, and three-pointers than Sexton last year.
Show caution in drafting Allen and Love. Allen split his time with the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers last year, and it might be tough for him to repeat the numbers he had with the Nets because he is playing with a weaker supporting cast. Love meanwhile has suffered his fair share of injuries over the last five years, and is simply not the player he was earlier in his career.
*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).
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