THE PROMISED LAND

The Cavs are skillfully navigating a post-LeBron world

- CHRIS MANNIX

FOR TWO DECADES, the simplest way to decide whether it was worth buying a ticket to see the Cavs play at home was to glance across the street from the arena. The brick wall on the side of the Sherwin-Williams building in downtown Cleveland has become a beacon of sorts. In good times-the LeBron years-the space bore various Nike-sponsored images of James. In down times the non-LeBron years-10-story banners highlighting local landmarks and the Cleveland skyline hung from the wall. But now, five years after James's second exit, the Cavaliers have built a sustainable winner and his absence-real or poster-sized-no longer hangs over them.

In the aftermath of James's 2018 departure, the Cavs crumbled. There was no culture, no foundation, just a handful of good players whose skill sets complemented a particularly special one. As a result, says team president Koby Altman, "We fell flat on our face." A 19-win season in '18-19 in which coach Ty Lue, who had led the team to its only championship, was fired after six games. Another 19 wins in pandemic-shortened '19-20, when John Beilein, a 67-year-old college coach with no pro experience, quit after three months.

In other words, not a team that appeared on the brink of contention. But the Cavs had a rebuilding plan. They poured resources into scouting. Into player development. They drafted well. Point guard Darius Garland in 2019. Wing Isaac Okoro in '20. Big man Evan Mobley in '21. They made shrewd trades, most notably in January '21, when Altman horned in on a Nets-Rockets deal, facilitating a James Harden swap and picking up future All-Star Jarrett Allen while giving up only one first-round pick. Last season Cleveland finished above .500 in a non-LeBron season for the first time since 1998, positioning the Cavs as a piece away from contending.

Donovan Mitchell was it.