The NBA Loser Lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Cavs did great fantasy work this season — but things will change in 2024-25

Welcome to “The Loser Lineup,” where we delve into what teams eliminated from playoff contention must do to elevate their fantasy basketball game. As the dust settles on this season’s disappointments, it’s time for these teams to strategize, rebuild and reinvigorate their rosters for a shot at redemption next season. Join us as we explore the pivotal moves and player evaluations that could change the fantasy landscape by next year.

This story will continuously be updated as each NBA team heads for Cancún and we add them to the Loser Lineup.

The Cavaliers held it down for fantasy managers this season with standout performances from key players. Donovan Mitchell, a first-round value, had one of his best seasons, while Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley ranked in the top 50 on a per-game basis. Darius Garland and Caris LeVert also made their mark, securing positions in the top 75 and 100 players respectively. However, this lineup may undergo significant changes in the upcoming season.

Despite winning 48 games, injuries mounted, ultimately ending the Cavs season in the second round. That second-round exit won’t be enough to keep this team together because of looming contract and chemistry issues.

Mitchell is eligible for a contract extension but has been non-commital on his future with Cleveland. Rumors of his potential departure and the impending extension of Evan Mobley could significantly impact the team’s dynamics, potentially pushing the Cavaliers into the second apron if both players are extended this offseason.

There’s also the question of whether it’s worth running back the frontcourt duo of Mobley and Jarrett Allen. There’s no space for either to operate in tandem, so seeing one of these two move before next season wouldn’t be surprising.

Mitchell’s decision is the first and most important domino to fall, and if he leaves, we’ll likely see a better version of Darius Garland, who had a down year taking a backseat to Mitchell. The Cavs role players were solid all year, so I’d expect Max Strus and Caris LeVert to remain late-round options heading into next season.

The Magic exceeded last year’s win total by 13 games,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/the-nba-loser-lineup-donovan-mitchell-cavs-did-great-fantasy-work-this-season–but-things-will-change-in-2024-25-223750527.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-05-16 14:25:35

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.