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The Cavaliers head coach knows he has difficult decisions ahead

The Cavaliers head coach knows he has difficult decisions ahead

The Cleveland Cavaliers are only on the second day of training camp at the IMG Academy in Florida. However, it’s never too early to think about what a possible Wine and Gold rotation might look like.

New head coach Kenny Atkinson said during the media release last Friday that he was ready to field up to 11 players immediately. Atkinson then revealed on Wednesday that he didn’t know exactly who would be in the rotation yet, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy to make those final decisions.

“No. Oh, no way. We haven’t played enough and I need to get to know the group better. “It’ll work out,” Atkinson said.

“But even that,” I told them, “one thing we need to celebrate is our strength. If you have 14 rotation players, you can only play 10, maximum 11. Ten is usually probably a better number. But it will be difficult.” I know it will be really difficult for the coach. There are probably three or four guys who deserve to be in the rotation, but you just can’t do it.

The Cavs bench celebrates on the bench

February 8, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Atkinson does not name any players who are close to being bench or reserve players. But assuming the Cavs field the same starting five next season, he’ll have to select five or six players from the group consisting of Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr., Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill , Dean Wade and Tristan Thompson.

There are still almost three weeks until the Cavs open the new NBA season. So Atkinson has plenty of time to figure out who he wants to play against in each game. Still, Atkinson has been open about celebrating Cleveland’s strength, and the opening night rotation likely won’t be the same when the team closes out the year in April.