Cavs Have the Most Versatile Front-court in the NBA?
CLEVELAND, Ohio – – The Cleveland Cavaliers have managed to assemble a formidable front-court that could be the most versatile in the NBA. This was accomplished following the Achilles injury to center Anderson Varejao in the beginning of the last season. Varejao played in the first 26 games, starting at center, and averaged 9.8 points/6.5 rebounds/0.62 blocks. When he went down with the season ending injury the Cavaliers had a desperate need in the front court for a rim-protecting big-man.
In a mid-season trade with the Denver Nuggets, the Cavaliers acquired 7’1” center Timofey Mozgov as the starter at the five – a shot-blocking rim-protector that has lots of energy and runs the floor well. He was an integral piece towards the Cavaliers making it all the way to the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers managed a 20-1 home record after adding Mozgov to the starting squad.
With the return of power forward Kevin Love and the inevitable return of back-up power forward Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers seem to be fully stocked with bigs.
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
The most intriguing Cavaliers News revolves around Russian center Sasha Kaun, a player that the Cavaliers met with during and following its final summer league game in Las Vegas. It was reported by Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio Media Group that the interest was mutual in Kaun playing for the Cavaliers and that Kaun had mentioned money wasn’t a problem saying
"“That’s probably something that shouldn’t be a problem,” he said. “Hopefully coming to this team, it will give us an opportunity to win, and winning is more important to me than money. I don’t think I want to do it (play basketball) because of the money. Just play basketball and enjoy it and play with some really great players. That’s the more important thing.”"
With Mozgov starting at center and Varejao and Kaun sharing the back-up duties, maybe the Cavaliers will be healthy throughout the season and into the post-season.
Bringing Tristan Thompson back to come off the bench at the four has become the Cavaliers number one priority.
Thompson is a versatile and effective defensive option who can play both the power forward and center positions when needed. With stretch four Kevin Love starting for the Cavaliers, the need for another high volume rebounder coming off the bench is essential.
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Thompson has become a defensive presence in the paint and especially on the offensive glass. The Cavaliers have been taking their time in re-signing Thompson because of a disagreement in contract value. Thompson and his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, have been looking for a near-max contract approaching $90,000,000 over five years.
When the entire front-court is assembled and healthy, the Cavaliers may not have the most dominant front-court but they most certainly will have the most versatile – with both Thompson and Varejao able to play and guard multiple positions and Kevin Love as the stretch four – and it opens up many possibilities for a front-court that could be among the elite in the NBA.
Do you think the Cavs have the best front-court in the NBA?