Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

3 Cleveland Cavaliers additions who didn’t live up to their hype

By Chad Porto

Feb 6, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Derrick Rose (1) smiles as he prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Derrick Rose (1) smiles as he prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
CLEVELAND – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers congratulates Shaquille O’Neal #33 after his basket against the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 101-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers congratulates Shaquille O’Neal #33 after his basket against the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 101-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Shaquille O’Neal

You wouldn’t think that the arrival of Shaquille O’Neal would be seen as a big deal considering the time frame in which the Cleveland Cavaliers landed him but it was. Despite being 37 years old during the season, O’Neal’s arrival was supposed to be the final piece in the puzzle for LeBron James and the Cavaliers to win a title for the city. O’Neal was coming off an All-Star season with the Phoenix Suns, where he put up about 18 points, eight rebounds, and shot 61% from the floor.

The fit with the Suns and O’Neal wasn’t great. He slowed down the fast-paced offense and the Suns won fewer games in each consecutive season he was there than they did before his arrival. So the Suns were eager to move him and did so for just, Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, $500k, and a 2010 second-round draft pick.

It seemed like a steal for the Cavs, yet when O’Neal arrived in Cleveland, it became clear that the young and fast Suns players he spent a year and a half with were covering up a lot of his issues; namely his mobility and conditioning.

O’Neal did the best he could, but at 37 he wasn’t the player they needed. They needed a spacer and O’Neal was anything but that.

Next. 3 Cleveland Cavaliers whose futures will be decided over the last 21 games. dark

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers