3 Trades The Cleveland Cavaliers Should Consider
By Ben Belden
By considering these trade options, the Cleveland Cavaliers could keep up with the Golden State Warriors and knock off the reigning champs for the NBA Title later this summer.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a fascinating team.
After contending for a title last summer, the Cavaliers have yet to hit their peak this season, although their 21-9 start to the season is nothing to complain about based on their early-season struggles last season. Given the offensive struggles the Cavaliers have faced at the beginning part of the season, the Cavaliers could look to make a move, especially since they have unique assets in trade exceptions from Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller.
The NBA’s newest fad is the small lineup. After the Cavaliers took a 2-1 series lead on the Warriors in the NBA Finals, the Warriors were able to counter by playing a small lineup and the Cavaliers were dead in the water, especially without the services of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. The Cavaliers attempted to match the Warriors’ small lineup, but suffered in such a lineup due to an overall lack of depth.
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Other teams have began to buy in to the small-ball lineup. One of these notables squad include the Indiana Pacers, who have used Paul George at the power forward at times throughout the season. George has been terrific and was even named the “MVP of the first trimester” by ESPN writer Marc Stein.
Before the Finals, the Cavaliers had intermittent success with small lineups, often using LeBron James as their power forward and Tristan Thompson as their center. At 31, perhaps it’s time for James and the Cavaliers to consider re-inventing his game as a new-age power forward. After all, it’s no secret the Warriors are perhaps the biggest threat standing between the Cavaliers and their first NBA Title.
As January approaches, there are a few trades the Cavaliers could consider to acquire players which would allow them to play and sustain small lineups:
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