NBA Analyst Believes Cavaliers’ Big 4 ‘Has Not Even Close To Peaked’

NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ Big 4 “has not even close to peaked.”

The Cavaliers Big 4 is Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland. 

“People have glommed onto Cleveland barely winning the minutes played by its Big Four,” Favale wrote. “But the sample is much smaller (819 possessions) compared to 2022-23, when the quartet posted a net rating of 10.2 through 1,729 possessions. Recapturing the vibes and success from their first year together is hardly farfetched. Better health alone gets the Cavs there. If anything, the expectation should default to them coming closer to something that resembles a peak.

“Mobley is better entering Year 3 than as a rookie. He dabbled in above-the-break shooting to close last season and continues to improve how he handles physicality. The Mitchell experience has exceeded forecasts in each of the past two years. Garland will have a better season if he can string together longer stretches of not getting hit in the face.

“Last year’s adversity also lent itself to self-discovery. Questions remain about the Allen-Mobley fit. They’ll be answered with positive affirmations if Mobley keeps expanding his range. And if he doesn’t, Cleveland already has information on how to stagger them and what lineups work best—intel head coach Kenny Atkinson can implement, tweak and build upon.”

The Cavaliers gave extensions to Mitchell, Mobley and Allen and declined trade offers for Garland this offseason. 

Cleveland went 48-34 last season. The Cavs beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. 

JB Bickerstaff was fired as head coach and replaced by Kenny Atkinson, who coached Allen on the Brooklyn Nets.

Atkinson and Mitchell are big fans of Allen and Garland and told the front office to keep the center and guard, NBA sources told Hoops Wire. Multiple teams tried to acquire Allen and Garland this offseason.