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12 Potential Trade Targets For Cavs

By Luke Sicari

Sep 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt and general manager David Griffin talk with the media during Cleveland Cavaliers media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt and general manager David Griffin talk with the media during Cleveland Cavaliers media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) looks on in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) looks on in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Another well-respected player around the league whose name always seems to pop up in the rumor mill, Crawford actually has been targeted by the Cavs before. In the off-season, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that Cleveland was pursing Crawford.

Despite the pursuit, is Crawford the best player to fit Cleveland’s needs/wants?

He is having a down season shooting the basketball, as he is only connecting on 31.6% of his three-point attempts, the second worse rate of his 15-year career. Although, a positive is Crawford is shooting 37.8% on catch and shoot three-point attempts, which is where his shots would be in Cleveland.

Crawford is known for his fancy dribbling, which often leads to him shooting jumpers, but he wouldn’t need to provide that in Cleveland. The Cavaliers have enough playmakers off the dribble, so all Crawford would need to do is have his hands ready to catch and shoot, which should see an increase in his shooting percentages.

On defense, Crawford has actually been a positive this season, albeit a small one. Opponents are shooting 0.4% below their season average when being guarded by Crawford. For the Cavs, if they can trade for someone like Crawford, who is a solid catch and shoot shooter, isn’t a negative on the defensive end and also provides some veteran leadership, it would go a long way to delivering that long-elusive championship to Cleveland.