3 Reasons to believe in Cleveland Cavaliers’ young core

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ young players have been heavily criticized but they could one day become valuable contributors to the franchise.

Fans haven’t been too patient with the Cleveland Cavaliers young core. This is understandable, as back-to-back 19-win seasons is a hard pill to swallow after four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. But, it’s too early to give up on this squad.

Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr. haven’t even finished a full season yet while Collin Sexton is only 21 years of age. The Cavaliers barely had time to build chemistry between four coaching changes and numerous trades that constantly mixed up personnel.

By the final month of the season, Cleveland finally began to piece things together. The presence of Andre Drummond helped slow down opponents in the paint while Sexton, Garland and Porter each showed promise in their own way.

Led by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers went 5-6 following the All-Star break. This stretch included impressive wins over talented teams such as the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. Overall, the Cavaliers were tied for the eighth-best record in the East during this stretch.

The season was suspended right when the Cavaliers hit their stride. Hopefully, they will get a chance to compete together again in a potential second bubble with the other delete-eight teams. This proposed Chicago bubble would offer a chance for the Cavs to build on what they had before the start of next season.

Despite their brief success, Cleveland’s core is still scrutinized. Garland was considered the worst player in the league while Sexton has been ridiculed for his selfish tendencies. Only Porter seems to garner any respect, but even he is underrated by most.

Here, we will take a look at each individual member of the young core and determine what is their peak potential.