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By Anne Erickson
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The Cleveland Cavaliers went into the offseason with one priority above everything else, and they accomplished it.
It's pretty easy to tell what they needed to do.
Donovan Mitchell signed a four-year, $273 million max extension, ending any questions about his future and giving the Cavaliers exactly what they needed most: stability. Keeping a superstar in place is never a small victory, especially for a team that still believes its championship window is open.
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Beyond that move, however, Cleveland's offseason was relatively tame.
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The Cavaliers may have found an intriguing young piece in second-round pick Meleek Thomas, who got lots of attention by leading all Summer League players in scoring. It's far too early to know what role he'll eventually get, but his offensive ability gives Cleveland something to watch heading into the season.
Mario Hezonja also joins the roster, adding another veteran option, though it's unclear how large of a role he'll ultimately play.
On the other side of the ledger, Cleveland lost Dean Wade, Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr. None of those departures completely change the outlook for the franchise, but they do take away from the team's depth.
That's what makes this offseason feel a little incomplete. The Eastern Conference has only gotten tougher, and the Cavaliers are still trying to prove they belong among the league's true contenders. They've won just two games across their last three playoff series losses, showing there's still a gap between Cleveland and the NBA's elite.
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The front office clearly believes continuity gives this group its best chance to take the next step. There's certainly value in bringing back the core, especially after locking up Mitchell for the long term. Whether that's enough, of course, is another question.
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