Earlier this offseason, I outlined five keys the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to finally get over the hump this season. At the time, I brought up key factors for success, including health, player growth, and whether Cleveland could finally make it work with its Core Four.

That question has now been answered. Or, at least, it seems that way.

I’m not sure if you heard, but the Cavs made a recent franchise-altering change to its roster by acquiring James Harden. They also added Dennis Schröder, along with Keon Ellis, completely changing how the team looks, and feels, going forward.

With all the changes, I thought it would be fun to revisit those same five keys.

Capitalize on the wide-open Eastern Conference

The window was already open in the East. Harden widens it.

In my October article, I said the Cavs’ path to the finals was, for lack of better words, easy. Of course, nothing comes easy in the NBA, and we’ve seen that with the performance of the Celtics, for example, who seem to be doing just fine without Jason Tatum.

Enter Harden, who gives the Cavs something they flat-out didn’t have before… a second Superstar player who can seriously make a difference in the playoffs. In an Eastern Conference without a clear juggernaut (I’m still not convinced about Detroit), that skill set becomes a separator. 

Manage star workload for playoff availability

One of the biggest concerns in the first version of this article was how much offensive responsibility fell on Donovan Mitchell over an 82-game season. Well, what do you know, that burden has shifted.

Harden’s presence allows the Cavs, and Mitchell, to be more intentional with minutes and usage. Schröder adds another layer. He’s always been the perfect “plug-and-play” player, and he fits right in with the Cavs. 

Integrating returning players with new ones

Blending Harden into a roster with Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen may be rough at first. We’ve seen how much Mitchell demands the ball; Mobley at points, too. With Harden here, roles matter even more than before. Touches are more important. And the question of “who takes the last shot?” matters even more.

That’s where reigning coach of the year Kenny Atkinson comes in. 

His experience coaching star-studded teams in the past is… suspect at best, but Harden is at the end of his career. This could be the perfect time for him to take a step back and let Mitchell, Allen, and Mobley run the show. When the team needs to rely on him, they will (see Feb. 9’s game against the Nuggets), and he’ll be comfortable in that role. Let’s just hope he adheres to those roles. I tend to think he will. 

Leverage offseason additions to build playoff-ready depth

In the original article, I said that Cleveland’s lack of reliable playoff depth was a red flag. Now, the rotation looks a lot different.

Harden changes the offense a bit, but not totally. In fact, I’m not even concerned with anything he does offensively. We know he’s elite there. I’m more concerned with his ability to defend, especially in a seven-game series. He’s looked good so far, but that consistency has yet to be seen. 

Schröder raises the defensive floor of the team’s guard lineups in general, and I’m giddy like a kid on Christmas to see him and Mobley on the floor together. 

Evan Mobley’s evolution 

Mobley is still the swing factor but now we have more context on what that means.

With Harden commanding defensive attention and orchestrating the offense,  Mobley doesn’t need to force creation. Don’t believe me? Check out Allen’s stats so far since Harden joined the team. Just imagine how Mobley will look on the floor with him.

Final thoughts

My first article asked whether the Cavs could get over the hump as constructed with its Core Four. The Cavs front office answered that question for us. 

Now, I’m asking a different question. Is this finally the roster that puts this team over the hump?

By acquiring Harden and reinforcing the guard rotation with Schröder, the argument could be made that yes, this team can win it all. Whether they can execute is another story and the most exciting part of the rest of this season.