When next season begins is anyone’s guess, but the Cavaliers are preparing as best they can anyway.
The NBA notified teams last week that group workouts can resume, allowing up to 10 players at practice facilities at a time, as well as the coaches. The Cavs aren’t there yet — but they have had players in market doing individual workouts pretty regularly since the Cleveland bubble.
That took place in September at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Cavs gathered to get in some run. It was the closest thing to a real training camp since the coronavirus pandemic dramatically altered the 2019-20 season in March.
Collin Sexton was in the bubble. So were fellow youngsters Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler. Same goes for Larry Nance Jr., veteran signee Jordan Bell and several others. Kevin Love even showed up for a few days.
Right now, the league and players union are still negotiating on a start date to 2020-21. It’s been said that the league prefers Dec. 22, with the union leaning more toward Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.
The draft (Nov. 18) and free agency (presumably a few days after that) still have to take place before anyone can get too serious. So does some collective bargaining between the league and players.
Once all of that is resolved, you can expect the frequency of the workouts in Cleveland and everywhere else to pick up. Eventually, there will be an official start date to training camp.
It has not been determined which Cavs have been taking part in the post-bubble individual workouts, though Nance is an Akron native and lives nearby. He admittedly has been among the regulars at the practice facility.
Beyond that, everything remains a mystery — both in Cleveland and elsewhere — despite the league informing teams that group workouts are again a go.
NOTES
1. After finishing each of the past two seasons with just 19 wins, the Cavs are looking to accelerate their progress, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “The Cavs, who have sort of been at the bottom, from what I have understand, intend to move up,” Windhorst said on his podcast. “They intend to hit the gas a little bit.”
2. The Cavs own the No. 5 overall draft pick and league sources say they intend to use it. That news refutes what an opposing executive told AmicoHoops/SI.com in August. He said he “strongly” doubts they want the pick and will agressively look to trade it. Guess we’ll find out who’s right on draft night.
3. Cavs lifer Tristan Thompson is the team’s most notable free agent. I have my doubts about his return. In case you missed it, here is my list of potential Thompson destinations.
