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2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 9/26/2024

Cleveland Cavaliers predictions Donovan Mitchell

The Cleveland Cavaliers are still looking for consistency in their post-LeBron era, and this may be the season where they put it all together. There is no doubt the Cavaliers will be making the playoffs, and a top seed could ensure they have an easier path to the Finals. Injuries spoiled their first postseason series victory since 2018 last season, but could this be the year where they finally make another deep playoff run?

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Cleveland Cavaliers Offseason Recap

The Cavaliers were very quiet in the offseason, focusing on securing their future with current players over hitting free agency. The first player to get re-signed was Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is a crucial part of the Cavaliers offense, leading the team with 26.6 PPG last season. It is no surprise to see the Cavaliers lock him up for the foreseeable future. Mitchell signed a 3-year, $151 million dollar contract extension in the offseason with the Cavaliers. His $50 million dollar AAV puts him 18th in the league, which is a fair price for a player of his caliber. 

The next man who needed an extension was Jarrett Allen, who signed a 3-year, $91 million dollar extension. Allen was on and off the court due to injury last season, but there is no doubt about his value for the Cavaliers. He can vacuum up rebounds like few others in the game, and his 16.5 PPG on 63.8% from the floor was key on the offensive end. The Cavaliers playoff run was disrupted by injuries rather than a lack of talent, making the Cavaliers comfortable in running it back with a very similar squad this season. 

Cleveland Cavaliers Season Expectations

After a promising season last year, anything short of multiple playoff rounds will be seen as a failure in Cleveland. Mitchell is one of the truly elite players in the league. If he stayed healthy last year, there’s no saying how far the Cavaliers could have gone. Mitchell can create his own shots, set up his teammates, and drive to the hoop when necessary. His backcourt partner Darius Garland also got injured in the postseason. Garland may only be 6’1, but he makes up for his lack of size with his dribbling abilities. Garland has brought handles not seen since rookie Kyrie Irving to Cleveland and is a fantastic partner to Mitchell. 

In the paint, the Cavaliers two big men in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen clog up the paint. Both men are capable of blocking shots, averaging 1.4 and 1.1 blocks per game, respectively, last season. Mobley is still only 22 years old and continues to get better every time he steps on the court. 

The Cavaliers starting five of Mitchell-Garland-Strus-Mobley-Allen is among the best in the league, but they have a shortage of depth on their roster. Players 6 through 10 in their rotation are bottom tier NBA players, meaning the Cavaliers will see a sharp decline in efficiency when they take a seat. The Cavaliers have had one of the best defenses in recent years. If their role players can hold down the fort while the starters rest, the Cavaliers will put themselves in a great position to win on a nightly basis. 

Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule Breakdown

The Cavaliers have a gentle start to the season, with no home stands or road trips longer than two games in the opening month. This will allow them to settle into the groove of the regular season nicely. The toughest portion of their schedule is during the holiday period. The Cavaliers will be starting 2025 in Los Angeles, as they are slated to play a four-game road trip featuring the Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers, and Mavericks over the holidays. 

Cleveland Cavaliers Odds

The Cavaliers have the 12th best odds to win the NBA championship, with a +4000 price tag attached to their victory. While another championship in Cleveland will remain the ultimate goal, they first need to set themselves up for success in the regular season. Cleveland’s win total is 48.5 wins, which feels a little low for this team. They dealt with injuries last season and still finished with 48 wins. Furthermore, their entire lineup is in their 20s and only getting better with each minute of NBA action. 

The Cavaliers are -1000 to make the playoffs, which isn’t worth considering for a season-long bet, but there are some juicy odds available for the NBA Cup. Cleveland is +190 to finish on top of Group C, which features the Celtics, Hawks, Bulls, and Wizards. While the Celtics will probably finish on top, there is still moderate value with those odds. They are +2500 to win the NBA Cup, and they may be able to squeak through as the best second place team. 

2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers Season Predictions

For the Cavaliers this season, I am high on them in the regular season but will be fading any playoff props for this team. Cleveland lacks the depth needed to make a playoff run, as even a single minor injury would force bottom of the barrel players to see playoff action. However, in the regular season they will be consistent enough to eclipse their win total, matching their 2022-23 record with 51 wins. Mitchell and Garland will be able to outwork the bottom half of the league on the perimeter, with their towering big man sealing the paint. Cleveland has a dominant defense that can get exposed against the top teams but will take care of business against the rest. The 48.5 win mark is only slightly higher than a .500 finish, which the Cavaliers can certainly achieve. 

While I won’t be touching their postseason props, the NBA Cup offers some value. The fact the Cavs are only +190 to win their group but are all the way up at +2500 to win the NBA Cup is puzzling. The Cavaliers clearly have a good chance of making the knockout stages, which would dramatically slash their NBA Cup odds. The +2500 odds available will not be here for long and are far superior over a playoff bet on the Cavaliers. 

Top Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers Over 48.5 Wins

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Cup +2500

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