The Cleveland Cavaliers are certainly not in a position to compete for a title this season, but it will be an important stretch for the franchise anyway.
With two young cornerstones in Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, the Cavs could have two guys with which to assemble a team around.
But questions remain about if they can play together or if starting in the same backcourt limits what they're able to do.
Apparently, even the front office themselves have their doubts, and that's what this season will be all about for Cleveland.
This is the year where the Cavs will decide if Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are truly the Starting Backcourt of the Future. I’ve repeatedly been told that decision hasn’t been reached. The Cavs are hopeful that it is — but they aren’t sure.
Wild guess: The determination will be made by the February trade deadline.
Sexton, 22, was picked 8th in the 2018 draft, and has made a steady improvement in each of his three years in the league. Most recently, he averaged 24.3 points per game on 47% shooting. We'll see if he can take another leap in the upcoming campaign.
Regarding Garland, there are some who are ready to crown him the future of the organization, mostly thanks to his versatile offensive skill set. Last season, he averaged 17.4 points per game on 39% shooting from beyond the arc.
After a burning hot start to the season, the Cavaliers came crashing back down to earth, eventually finishing 13th in the East with 22 total wins.
This has been the story for Cleveland since LeBron James' departure. as the franchise seeks its next cornerstone player, its fans have to continue to be patient and wait for a breakthrough.
This season, they hope that at least one of their core members will emerge as a legitimate star. Though, which one it will be is anyone's guess.
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