Is this the year Cavaliers finally break through? Hey, why not?

I’m a fan of the Cleveland Browns. It usually takes one NFL game to turn my attention back to the Cavaliers.

That’s a joke — sort of. But either way, I cover the Cavs and the NBA for a living, and training camp starts a week from Tuesday. So I soon won’t have a choice but to give them my full attention.

And this was an offseason of change of sorts for the Cavs. They traded former lottery pick Isaac Okoro to the Bulls for former lottery pick Lonzo Ball. They lost Ty Jerome (Grizzlies) and re-signed Sam Merrill. They brought back Larry Nance Jr.

For the record, I spoke to Nance at the Wyoming-Akron football game. We are undoubtedly the only two people in human history who were born in Akron, moved to Wyoming to start our respective careers, and then returned to work out of the Cavs locker room.

I’d like to think Junior is in good company.

Anyway, Nance thinks the Cavs have a shot at a championship. I agree. And some will tell you this has to be the year. Not necessarily for a title, but to be true blue contenders. As in, at least get to the Eastern Conference finals.

My expectations are higher, though. I think the Cavs need to get to the Finals. I think they can. I think they should. On paper, it’s between them and the Knicks. No disrespect to the Bucks, Magic, or even the 76ers if they get healthy. (Then again, the Sixers are sort of the NBA’s version of the Browns. They can’t get out of their own way.)

But for the Cavs, it’s about themselves. Can they play their best when it means the most? Can they stay healthy in April and May — and June if they get there? Can they withstand the physicality of opponents that are expected to be there at the end? 

Obviously, the hope around Cleveland is that the answers are yes, yes, and double yes.

With Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland (when healthy), Max Strus (ditto), De’Andre Hunter, Ball, Merrill, Dean Wade, second-year man Jaylon Tyson, Nance and more … well, I still really like this roster. I really like coach Kenny Atkinson and think he’s indeed the man to guide this group to the promised land.

It is a long, long way between the start of the season in late October and June. Much can and will happen. No matter, I like the Cavaliers’ chances as much as anyone, probably more.

All the talk right now is football. I get that. I’m really into it, too. But when it comes to Cleveland, we’ll soon get to see the guys who can really deliver something special. As of today, I’m fairly confident they will.