Kenny Atkinson’s comments on Cavs’ starters actually make sense

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson says the starting lineup isn’t set. So why do we know more about the Cavaliers than the coach?

That’s a joke … sort of. The Cavs already had Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, James Harden and Jarrett Allen. All started for a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season. They are all highly likely to start for that team again.

Then the Cavs went out and acquired Peyton Watson. I doubt they did so with the idea being, “Man, we got a fine bench player right there.”

Still, Atkinson told reporters that he hasn’t decided on the starters. “We have a whole training camp to work through that,” he added.

You know what? I believe him. Along with Watson, the Cavs have Jaylon Tyson and newcomer Mario Hezonja at the wing positions. Sam Merrill has started and done an admirable job there, too.

Nothing like a camp competition to bring out the best in guys — even if anyone with half a basketball brain can tell you that Watson has the inside track.

Still, we can use no less than Cavs legend Mark Price as a shining example as to why Atkinson’s statement on the starting lineup makes sense.

Camp battle incoming

Many years ago, long before I even knew what I wanted to do for a career (I was leaning toward psychology), I ran into Price at a community swimming pool. It was just me, Price, and my buddy. It was July and Price was coming off his rookie season with the Cavs. The Cavs had just drafted a young point guard named Kevin Johnson with their first pick, early in the lottery.

So we asked Price what he thought about the Cavs taking a guy who played his position. He didn’t hold back. “I don’t know why they felt the need to do that,” he said. “No idea.”

Now, this was back in an era when reporters could attend and actually see what was going on in practice. (For the Cavs, it wasn’t until Mike Fratello came along in 1993 that the media got the ol’ heave-ho.) 

And all the reports said Price was destroying Johnson in training camp. So Price earned the starting spot and went on to become a four-time All-Star. His No. 25 hangs in the rafters at Rocket Arena today.

Meanwhile, Johnson was traded to the Suns in a deal that brought back Larry Nance before the season ended.

Moral of the story? Guys aren’t handed starting jobs just because. At the time, everyone assumed Johnson (a lottery pick) would beat out Price (a second-rounder, coming off an uneven rookie year) for the job.

We are assuming Watson will start. It’s safe to say he probably will. But Atkinson isn’t just handing it to him. Tyson, Hezonja and Merrill will try to make their case. Perhaps one of them will make Atkinson’s decision easy. Maybe that man will be Watson. But we shouldn’t rule out anyone else.

So, yes, perhaps Watson has the inside track. It appears Atkinson still intends to make him run the race.