Trade Deadline Roundtable: Should the Cavs Make a Move?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have already had a busy trading season, as they have already brought in JR Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov via trades earlier this season. With the trade deadline just days away go, the guys here at King James Gospel discuss whether the Cavaliers need to make any more moves to the already talent-filled roster.

Do you feel like the Cavaliers currently have a complete roster or do you feel they still need to make some moves to have a championship-caliber roster?

Mike: I do as far as the current rotation goes. Granted, this is probably because I’m higher on Matthew Dellavedova than most, and think that his strengths are exactly what they need from a backup point guard. They could use a competent fourth big who probably wouldn’t play much, but would be insurance in case of an injury.

Spencer: The Cavaliers filled their needs of a post-presence, a wing defender and a catch shooter in early January with the acquisitions of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. The only roster “holes” left that need to be filled are a backup big man (preferably a center, Larry Sanders?) and a backup point guard (if they feel that it is completely necessary).

Reece: The Mozgov trade was the one deal the Cavaliers had to make to make a run at a championship this season. Right now I think they still need a backup center, but I still believe they are a championship caliber team even if they fail to get one.

Jared: I believe the Cavs have the right roster in place right now. LeBron, Kyrie and J.R. can all handle the ball, Iman Shumpert surprised me with his handles as well. I hope Shawn Marion and Mike Miller show something after getting some rest at the All Star Break so the Cavs don’t have to wear down their Top 8 all season and playoffs long. Besides that the Cavs have a good enough rotation of players, at least those who will actually see the court, as long as injuries or foul trouble doesn’t creep up.

Luke: While the Cavs are in a great place right now, winners of 14 of their last 16 ballgames, I still believe the team is one piece short of having a championship roster and that piece in another big off the bench. We saw in the last game against Chicago how ugly the Cavs can look if either Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov or Tristan Thompson out. No team is winning a title with James Jones playing 30 minutes at the power forward position. At the moment, the Cavs have a team capable of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals but that’s it.

Obviously the two biggest needs for the Cavs right now is a back-up big man and a back-up Point Guard. Out of the two, which one do you feel is more important to this team?

Mike: 100% back-up big man. They’ve needed one all year and Timofey Mozgov really just took Anderson Varejao’s spot. The ideal candidate is probably a low salary guy, or one who they aren’t committed to past this season.

Spencer: Back-up big man most definitely. As of now, Timofey Mozgov’s backup at center is Tristan Thompson. Because of that, Kevin Love’s backups are James Jones and Shawn Marion, which is not exactly ideal. Making a move for a backup center would help the second unit tremendously, as well as allow Thompson to move back to his natural power forward position off of the bench.

Reece: Backup center is the most important. Although another point guard would be nice. Tristan Thompson is a talented big man off the bench, but he isn’t a center. They need to add some depth behind Mozgov.

Jared: A big primarily. We saw it in the last game against the Bulls where Love was out and Mozgov got in foul trouble. The Cavs had to go small and James Jones or Shawn Marion did not show the ability to do much. I am most intrigued by Emeka Okafor being signed but unsure what his medical situation is.

Luke: Like everyone else, a back up big is without a doubt the bigger need than a back-up point guard. The Cavs have LeBron to handle the ball when Kyrie is off and JR has also shown he can play some point guard. Add 15 minutes of Delly a night and the point guard situation isn’t that bad. Like I mentioned in my previous answer, you only need to look back to the Chicago game to see how necessary another big man is. Imagine James Jones playing 30 minutes a night in a 7 game series against the Bulls? No thanks.

It’s no surprise the Cavs have limited trade options and have little to no flexibility in terms of cap-space right now. With that being said, who is the one player (you can name more if you like), apart from Brendan Haywood’s contact, you would be willing to trade?

Mike: Joe Harris. Harris has promise, but there’s plenty of guys like him available every year. I’d say James Jones, but I don’t see the Cavs trading one of their locker room leaders.

Spencer: Brendan Haywood is not going to be a Cleveland Cavalier for much longer, and surely Cavs fans will remember the great memories he provided. Sarcasm aside, it’s inevitable that Haywood will be gone sooner than later. As for other contracts that are expendable trade assets, Joe Harris comes to mind. He’s a young player that has a decently high basketball IQ and could become a dependable role player down the road.

Reece: Haywood might be the only player right now that I would trade away. You could make a case for Mike Miller, but I wouldn’t trade him unless I was getting a lot in return.

Jared: James Jones and Mike Miller fit this for me. Joe Harris has a lot of long term potential on a team that is going to want shooting. Delly is the defender that we need in the backcourt. Marion has little value but is needed just in case. Jones and Miller became expendable with J.R. and Shump.

Luke: Like Mike and Spencer, Joe Harris fits this for me. While I have loved what he did at the beginning of the season, with the additions of JR and Iman and the team getting healthy, Smokin’ Joe is completely out of the rotation. Trading Harris for say, a back-up big, would be more beneficial to Cleveland then sending Harris to Canton and back three times a week.

With some of the overseas competitions, such as the Chinese and Australian leagues coming to an end soon, do any players from these leagues interest you?

Mike: Not really, if guys such as Will Bynum and Andray Blatche had played well with their previous teams then they wouldn’t be overseas to begin with.

Spencer: I always thought that Toney Douglas would be a solid low-risk addition to the Cavs. He’s played overseas for a good amount of time now, and he recently played with the New Orleans Pelicans on a 10-day contract. It expired on Feb. 14, so I wouldn’t mind the Cavs taking a peek at that possibility.

Reece: I am not very familiar with the Chinese and Australian leagues, but I am sure there are some talented players in those leagues that could play in the NBA. There are a good number of Australain players in the league, such as Dante Exum, Patty Mills, and Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova.

Jared: I wrote a recent story about Michael Beasley and he is very intriguing based on his skill set. Besides that even Andre Blatche could help the Cavaliers out.

Luke: Will Bynum and Andray Blatche could help out the team slightly but there isn’t much out there in terms of international leagues. Brock Motum is playing for Adelaide down here in the NBL and is putting up 18 points and 7 rebounds a game, and could be a minor help. Undersized at 6’8 but he has played in the Summer League before, so he has slight experience but obviously someone like Larry Sanders is much more attractable.

Finally, you’re GM David Griffin and you are allowed to choose one player (not including All-Stars) from any roster to join the Cavs. Who do you choose?

Mike: Wow. I like Reece’s answer below, but for the sake of variety I’m going to go another way and select Korver’s teammate DeMarre Carroll. Arguably the best “3-and-D” player in the league right now, Carroll would be a tremendous fit on the wing alongside LeBron James. Honorable mention to Kyle O’Quinn of the Orlando Magic.

Spencer: Not including all-stars, huh. I like this question. I would add a veteran like George Hill. He’s a guy that’s been on a championship team in San Antonio and took those values with him to Indiana. Even with his team struggling a little, he’s produced and put up solid numbers. Hill’s a consummate professional in this league.

Reece: Kyle Korver would have be an easy choice. It is a tragedy that he was not selected to the All-Star team right away, although he has been added due to injury and he will be competing in the 3-point contest. I would sign Ray Allen, mainly to keep him from signing with someone else. He really isn’t a need at this point, but signing him couldn’t hurt, right?

Jared: For me this is easy: Serge Ibaka. Ibaka has developed the shooting range, getting better even from the 3 point line and has the defense that would be perfect with the Cavs. Ibaka would not be happy coming off the bench, and obviously he isn’t getting traded, but having Love and Mozgov starting with Ibaka, Tristan and Anderson Varejao (next year) off the bench would be amazing.

Luke: I love Jared’s answer of Serge Ibaka, he would be a perfect fit but I’m going with Andrew Bogut. His size and defense would be a charm in Cleveland and we have seen how much of a difference he makes in Golden State when he is fully healthy. Give me a 100% Bogut and he would be that missing piece in Cleveland.

Do you feel as if the Cavs need to be busy at the deadline? Let us know in the comments!

Trade Deadline Roundtable: Should the Cavs Make a Move?

By Luke Sicari | Feb 18, 2015

More from King James Gospel