CLEVELAND, Ohio — In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, hosts Ethan Sands and Jimmy Watkins discuss listener questions regarding the Cavs. The primary topics are the health of newcomer Lonzo Ball and the specific goals for head coach Kenny Atkinson’s second season.
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Takeaways:
1. Lonzo Ball’s Health Remains a Major Point of Contention
While there are reports and observations of Lonzo Ball appearing to be “100%” heading into training camp, there is significant skepticism about his ability to stay on the court. On one hand, he appears engaged and ready for the season. On the other, his injury history is a massive concern. He has played only 70 games over the last four seasons, with a career-best of just 63 games in a single season. The discussion highlights that a severe knee injury sidelined him for over two years, and even after a “Hail Mary” surgery allowed him to return, he only played 35 games last season before suffering an unrelated wrist injury. The consensus is that while his return to the court is a positive story, his history suggests he is injury-prone, and trusting his durability for a full season is a significant gamble.
2. If Healthy, Lonzo Ball Could Be the Championship “Missing Piece”
Both Sands and Watkins agree that a healthy Lonzo Ball has the potential to be a transformative player for the Cavaliers. He is described as the ultimate “gap filler” who can provide everything the team needs, with the exception of beating defenders off the dribble, a skill likely diminished by his knee injury. His value lies in his unselfish play, elite on-ball and off-ball defense, exceptional rebounding for his position, and his ability to ignite the fast break. His skill set is seen as the perfect complement to the existing roster, and his presence could be the deciding factor that elevates the Cavaliers from a playoff team to a legitimate championship contender.
3. The Acquisition Was Also a Strategic Cultural Fit
Beyond his on-court abilities, Lonzo Ball was targeted because he aligns with the culture the Cavaliers’ front office is building. He is portrayed as a “fun dude” who will mesh well with the team’s chemistry, but who also brings a high level of professionalism and a desire to win. A unique point is that Ball, as a high-profile player since his youth, can relate to Donovan Mitchell’s level of fame in a way most other teammates cannot, fostering a unique bond between key players. This move underscores the organization’s strategy of acquiring players who not only fit their basketball scheme but also positively contribute to the locker room environment and team camaraderie.
4. Kenny Atkinson’s Primary Challenge is Managing a “Motivation Vacuum”
A major goal for Kenny Atkinson is to keep the team engaged and focused during a regular season where they have little to prove to outsiders. The hosts argue that no matter their regular-season success, even winning 70 games, the narrative around the team will not change until they perform in the playoffs. This creates a “motivation vacuum” where the usual carrots of home-court advantage or silencing critics are ineffective. Atkinson’s challenge will be to find new ways to motivate his players nightly, especially when facing a weaker Eastern Conference. Successfully navigating this psychological challenge and preventing complacency will be a true test of his coaching ability.
5. Empowering Evan Mobley and Instilling Accountability Are Key Coaching Mandates
Specific goals for Kenny Atkinson and his staff center on player development and system adjustments. The highest priority is the development of Evan Mobley. This may require Atkinson to be more assertive, sometimes taking control of the read-and-react offense to specifically run plays for Mobley and ensure he gets more touches, even if it means taking the ball out of the hands of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Other key goals include re-establishing a top-five defense, successfully integrating De’Andre Hunter, and demanding a higher level of maturity and mental toughness from the entire roster. Atkinson is expected to hold players accountable for their actions to prevent the team from splintering if they face adversity during the season.
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Transcript
NOTE: This transcript was generated by artificial intelligence and could contain misspellings and errors.
Ethan Sands: What up, Cavs Nation? I’m your host, Ethan Sands, and I’m back with another episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast. Joining me today, Jimmy Watkins. And it’s time to get into questions that we receive from our Subtext subscribers. And the first one comes from Matt in Natural. Is is Lonzo considered 100% heading into training camp? From everything that I’ve heard, from everything that I’ve seen, Lonzo ball is at 100% when it comes to this coming season and how he is preparing for the year. There’s been videos circulating of him in Tremont walking around different establishments, getting initiated or instilled in the culture of Cleveland, Ohio. He’s definitely seeming like a guy that is excited for the season, seeming like a guy who’s ready to make an impact on his first true contending team in his NBA career because of what that means for the spotlight on him and what can prove. Jimmy, what do you think about Lonzo Ball’s health and how it can change the trajectory of what the Cavs are doing? We talked a little bit about him earlier, but I think what he means to this organization, what he means to this team in particular is important.
Jimmy Watkins: First of all, I want to shout out Tremont in the coolest neighborhood in Cleveland. That’s where I live. Come say what’s up. But the Lonzo thing, Yeah. I mean, if he’s healthy, the trajectory that needs to change is the trajectory of Lonzo Ball’s health. Okay? The guy has played 70 games over the last four NBA seasons. That’s a lot of time missed. Okay? And I know that most of that time was for one specific knee injury. Whereas when he returned last year, ESPN wrote a story about how basically Lonzo was thinking his career might be over. And then they threw this Hail Mary surgery out there, and it seemed to work. I guess it worked because he played last year, but he only played 35 games and he had a wrist injury. So it’s different. We do this thing with Lonzo Ball coming into the team where it’s a good thing that he only played 35 games last year, because he only played 35 games last year for a completely unrelated injury, I guess. But the. The whole thing is, like, he’s never been durable, like, at all. It was one knee injury for two years, which is bad. Two and a half years. But before then, 2017, 18, 52 games, 2018, 19, 47 games, 63 games is this man’s career. Best 55 games with the Pelicans the year before that first, if you think that one not even half season assuages all fears about the knee, I guess a beachfront property in Idaho to sell you. I mean, I don’t, I don’t mean to be glib about this stuff, but I just, I’m not over the knee stuff yet. We saw very small. It’s. I’m so happy that he got to play basketball at all because as I’ve said before, as I’ve written about this topic, I love watching Lonzo Ball play basketball. He plays basketball in a really cool way. He’s one of the most unselfish players in the NBA. He’s a really cool defensive player. He figured out his shot. He can be an incredible piece. If Lonzo Ball is healthy. To answer the original question real quick, Ethan, he can be the missing piece. He is such a gap filler and not just on defense where he’s great at playing the gaps, but whatever your basketball team needs, Literally whatever your basketball team needs, except for like beating dudes off the dribble and going to the rim. Those days are probably gone, are probably past him if not for. Because he’s lost a lot of burst, because he’s lost a lot of trust in that knee. And I get it. But pretty much everything else you need to do on a basketball court, Alonzo Ball could do it. He’s an incredible rebounder for his position. He’s a great passer. He is a one man fast break. He’s an incredible defensive player on, off ball. I think he’s a great presence for some of these younger players to have around him. I think he’ll be well received in the locker room. He’s the rare role player who can actually relate to a star player’s level of fame. Lonzo Ball and Donovan Mitchell understand things about each other’s world that even most NBA players don’t understand. They think they do, but it’s a different level when you’re as famous as those guys. He’s every. He can be everything and he can help the Cavs win a championship. Seriously, his health can be the difference between them winning a championship and not this year. But that’s the whole thing because the dude’s never healthy. I don’t trust the knee yet. And even if you do trust the knee, it seems like the dude’s made of glass everywhere else. And I’m hoping, hoping, hoping that somehow he’s turned a corner and found a regimen that works for him. Because again, I love Lonzo Ball. I just don’t trust him to Stay healthy.
Ethan Sands: We’ve talked a lot about culture on this podcast and you mentioned it there to me. A little bit about how Donovan Mitchell and Lonzo can relate to each other’s stardom. But Lonzo’s just a fun dude, like a great dude to be around. Like, if you watch, he’s got TikTok, Instagram, all, all these things. Like he just puts out funny video after funny video. You watch his podcast, it’s a funny episode after funny episode. You got like all of his video promotions that he’s doing. I think it’s like Google Pixel or something, like for the phones and stuff. That was a great video too, showcasing Tremont again. I just think he fits and meshes well with what the Cavs internally want to do and also has the professionalism on the court to be able to change between, ok, we’re having fun in the locker room, we’re celebrating what we do. And also, I’m a serious ball player and I want to do what it takes to win championships. Because, you know, Jimmy, the best way to counteract all of the negativity surrounding him about his knee, about his playstyle, about all of these different things, winning a championship, that shuts everybody up, that homes all the narratives around Lonzo Ball, around Donovan Mitchell, around conversations that we’ve had in previous podcasts about this entire situation over the next two seasons that is pivotal for the Cleveland Cavaliers as a franchise. So the decision for Lonzo Ball made a whole lot of sense because of what he can do on the court offensively and defensively, to counteract the loss of Th Jerome, the loss of Isaacoro, but also understanding that it was a cultural fit. That’s kind of the direction that, that the Cleveland Cavaliers organization has continuously gone when it comes to players and acquisitions over the last few seasons. It’s we don’t only want you to fit our scheme, but we want you to fit our culture, fit our players, fit our guys. And that’s extremely apparent in the move to get Lonzo Ball. I’m a big fan of it. I think he’s going to be great this year, especially in a role where the Cavs understand what he needs to do. Limitations wise, potentially not playing in every back to back, potentially playing in no back to backs when it comes to Lonzo and how that could shape his health or especially with Darius Garland and Max Drews out, testing what he is capable of and then allowing him to rest up a little bit more when those guys return. I think there’s two options for Teddy Agatson. To use in that sense. I’m interested to see what he does with Lonzo, because, Jimmy, I’m in complete agreement. I think he can be the game changer, series changer, season changer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But last question coming from Daniel in Seattle, who asks, what specific goals do you think Kenny Atkinson has for himself and his staff this season? And I don’t mean winning games or playoffs or championships. Jimmy, I’m gonna let you dive right in on this one.
Jimmy Watkins: That’s interesting. I mean, I don’t think coaches think of things this way. They think their goals are their players goals and their team’s goals. But if I. If I were to say something that what should Kenny’s goal be? I would say a really impressive accomplishment to me, for Kenny this year would be keeping this team engaged and on the tracks during the regular season. Like, if the Cavs regular season this year looks anything like last year’s, that would be a real coaching accomplishment. Because this is all. I mean, this regular season is all about finding new ways to motivate guys. Because as you might have heard a few Cavs players say, it doesn’t mean anything. They can’t change the narrative. But there’s nothing other than the general joy of playing basketball professionally, which that should count for a lot, right? They’re not. There’s not a carrot to chase for the Cavs this Vegas season. Okay. You can say they would, you know, chase home court throughout the playoffs. They had it last year. Look where it got them. Didn’t matter. It didn’t matter. It just didn’t there. To prove people wrong. You can’t do that. There’s no motivation. Like, you can’t. There’s. You will. You will prove zero people wrong. You win 70 games this year, people be like, all right, but we’re still. I mean, that would be impressive. People are like, oh, crap. The Cats took another stop. But then when the playoffs started, be like, so what’s going on here? Like, round two. You got the magic. Round two, let’s say. You sure? Yeah. This guy took you to seven two years ago.
Ethan Sands: Yeah. And Jimmy, to your point, especially because the Max Stru conversation, they were so successful in their first 27 games. Didn’t have Max Strus those first 27 games last year. Likely not going to have him for a little bit longer this year ended.
Jimmy Watkins: For a little while.
Ethan Sands: Correct. And then the conversation turns, well, do you need these guys?
Jimmy Watkins: Exactly. So there’s going to be a motivation vacuum that I think will be very difficult to fill. So that’s one thing, I think if Kenny can, that’s a, that’s a like real coaches coach kind of challenge and goal to set is maintain that level engagement from a team that has few incentives to remain. The other thing is the east sucks. So the Cavs are going to walk in to most of these games as, I mean conservatively six seven point favorites. There’s more incentive to just go through the motion and win games and like what’s the point of this? What’s the point of this? That’s interesting. The other thing, I think we talked about it, get that defensive mentality back. Really become a defense first team and check yourself. Know your own tendencies. Recognize Kenny that you, you lean a little on the spectrum of basketball. You lean one way. You like offense. Maybe check that a little bit intentionally. Give Dean Wade some more run. Give DeAndre Hunter more defensive responsibility. Sure, play him more in general, but more defensive responsibility. DeAndre Hunter in general. That could be a nice coaching staff project. Like get him more comfortable. Again, you just told his best friend to kick rocks. So he might not feel the most comfortable right now, but get him where he needs to be. Fit him into your ecosystem. I think you can teach ball stoppy DeAndre Hunter to move the ball. I think that’s totally possible. Do that. I think that’s interesting. And then of course Evan Mobley, season long goal, season long goal is to win a championship. And if you win a championship, that means Evan Mobley took another leap. So from a play, I mean, you know, Kenny is a down and dirty player development coach at heart. I think that’s how he built his staff. And the most important player development project maybe in the entire NBA, short of Wemby and Cooper flag is Evan Mobley. So do everything you can to empower Evan Mobley. Maybe take more control of the reins from Donovan Mitchell. Right. We’ve, we’ve had this conversation before. There is a conflict of interest, in my opinion between the style the Cav deployed last year, which Kenny’s just like you guys take the wheel. His off by design. His offensive system is player focused, player led. There’s no stringent play calls. There are just actions and it’s a read and react type deal. But in times of stagnancy, take more control and say okay, this is what we’re doing. Evan Mobley gets the ball. Last year we were saying it doesn’t really matter who has the steering wheel to the car, but if you have specific stated goals, you have target points you’re trying to hit with Evan Mobley. Well, then maybe you take the wheel from Donna Mitchell and Darius Garland sometimes if they’re. And they’re incredible players, they should have the ball as much as they want. But for the purpose of this basketball team getting where it needs to, Evan Moby needs the ball a little bit more. So just take it from him. Take it from him every now and then. Those are a few things that I could think of.
Ethan Sands: My top one for Kenny Atkinson, I think is going to be a top five offense and a top five defense in the NBA, which would obviously match both of Jimmy’s points. Being able to improve the defensive identity of this team, but also maintaining the offensive identity of this team, which is kind of what leads to playoff success. Right? If you’re good on both ends of the floor, but also understanding that DeAndre Hunter needs to be acclimated into the offense. DeAndre Hunter needs to be one of the most important players on this team, especially if he’s going to stick in the six man role. And obviously again, Evan Mobley has to be initiated into the offense as much as possible, maybe touching the ball every time down the floor if possible. But the overall thing when it comes to that is aggressive mentality, the assertiveness to keep your foot on teams next, to continue to push the narrative forward, to keep pushing the ball forward, to keep pushing the opposing team. Kind of like what Tristan Thompson said after the Golden State warriors game where they had the best half in the Cavs franchise history. You took the foot off the gas. You did not finish the game how you started it. And that’s not indicative of what kind of team the Cavs want to be or can be, especially in the playoffs, because of how important it is to keep the metal going forward. Especially after we saw the Indiana Pacer series where you would get off to a good start and then you would get drained because you’re not used to going that hard in the second half. It hurts you immensely when it comes to the style of play that the Cavs have and also how good they were last year and not being sucked into that again and keeping the camaraderie high, right? Keeping the chemistry high, keeping this team together, keeping this team as one is going to be important as well because if things go awry, there’s going to be a lot of questions. There’s going to be a lot of hard questions for this team during the season and there’s a tendency when that happens, especially from a youngish team, to then start turning on each other and not necessarily blaming one another. Outright, but not taking accountability. And I think as much as Kenny Atkinson wants to take accountability for how his team plays, you also have to understand the reality of, well, sometimes it’s not on you, sometimes it’s on the players. And you don’t necessarily have to call them out. But if a player tries to push the narrative somewhere else, you have to make him take accountability for his actions, for his mistakes, for whatever happens in this season. And that kind of goes in hand with the assertiveness, like not as free flowing as it was last year, but more assertive, more pushy, more understanding of what is to come, the stakes involved in the importance again of these next two years. And we talk about. Kenny Atkinson has a long leash with his organization because of what he did in year one. If things don’t go the calves way in the next two years, Kenny Atkinson, you might not be safe either.
Jimmy Watkins: Well, we all know how the coaching thing works. So what have you done for me lately? Business. And it’s kind of like running a business where it’s never good enough to just be good. You always have to be better, right? Because if you’re not getting better, then to the layman, what is the coach doing? Especially the player development coach. This, you know, development is always happening, right? So yeah, to your point, that’s and, and just basic NBA rules. If you’re losing playoff series, you’re not supposed to lose. That’s bad for everyone’s job security. Okay. I also wonder if Kenny would just want a little more. Not that anyone ever wants to lose or anything, but just would love to see a few more bumps in the road this regular season, you know, because last year was kind of like a fever jam. I mean, they had a couple of mini losing streaks or they looked tired at times and then. And those were all often explained by their schedule also. But that’s not real adversity. The Cavs faced essentially zero real adversity last year. And then we saw in the playoffs what happened when they encountered real adversity. They weren’t ready for it. Now I think when the Cavs do encounter some real this another lose, lose the cat. This is a regular season filled with lose loses for the Cavs. If the Cavs, you know, lose five in a row, six in a row, it’s one point this regular season. And they say this is good. This will help us learn something for the playoffs when we’re down, I think fans will roll their eyes and say, you idiots, nothing can replicate the playoffs in the regular season. And I intend to agree with that. But I’d rather face some adversity than no adversity when I’m trying to test my guys to see how they respond to it. Does that make sense?
Ethan Sands: A thousand percent Adversity is a good thing, right? Because again, it’s a privilege to who have so many eyes on you. Right? The Cavs have asked for nationally televised games. You have 24 of them this year. And we also know if they play well, more could be added to that slate. Right? You have eyes on you now. You have a Bullseye on your back in the Eastern Conference that understands that you think that you are the best team in the East. They’re going to try and prove you wrong. Right? So you are going to get every team’s best. But how do you respond if you don’t? How do you respond if you lose? Right? And I just think it’s important for this Cavs team to show their mental toughness. The word for this team is maturity. I think Kenny Atkinson would be extremely happy if that elevated to some degree this season when it came to not just Donovan Mitchell trying to figure out if he wants to give the reins to Evan Mobley or not, but Darius Garland. Improve your maturity. Evan Mobley, speak up. Improve your maturity. Jared Allen, speak up on the floor. Improve your maturity. Right? And that all ties into mental toughness and what is important for this team. The biggest area coming off of last year’s playoffs was we are not tough enough. Well, show me you’re tough enough. Show me something changed. Show me something inside of you understands that there needed to be a change and that you applied that this off season. Going back to one of our subtext questions, sports psychologists, training, work ethic, whatever it needed to be for that individual player. And it’s different for every player. Show me you applied something this off season to get yourself to the next level. Mental toughness. Physical toughness could have been in the gym. Whatever things needed to change this off season for the Cavs to get to where they want to go. Did they? We’ll see. But with all that being said, that’ll wrap up today’s episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast. But remember to become a Kavs insider and interact with Chris, me and Jimmy by subscribing to subtext. Sign up for a 14 day free trial or visit cleveland.comcavs and click on the blue bar at the top of the page. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. All you have to do is text the word stop. It’s easy we can tell you and the people who signed up stick around because this is the best way to get insider coverage on the cast from me, Chris and Jimmy. This isn’t just our podcast. It’s your podcast. And the only way to have your voice heard is through subtext. Y’ all be safe. We out.