King James Gospel
Fansided

Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Trades The Team Can Make Before The NBA Trade Deadline

By Quenton S. Albertie

Dec 5, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) celebrates Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson's (1) game tying shot during the fourth quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nuggets won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) celebrates Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson's (1) game tying shot during the fourth quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nuggets won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jan 2, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) shoots a layup against Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris (12) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Jazz win 101-89. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) shoots a layup against Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris (12) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Jazz win 101-89. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz

In this trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers are receiving a point guard in Shelvin Mack who will play aggressive on-ball defense and get to the rim a lot, especially with the shooters on the Cleveland Cavaliers team.

The biggest benefits of this trade? It’s a trade in which the Cavs add a fully healthy point guard who is already in game shape rather than signing a free agent point guard that hasn’t played all season. Mack would make the Cleveland Cavaliers second unit defense better because his individual defensive ability allows Derrick Williams to focus on guarding shooting guards and forwards, which is his specialty.

It’s also a trade that keeps Iman Shumpert in town. Shumpert will hold down the starting shooting guard spot until J.R. Smith returns, then take his catch-and-shoot ability to the bench while Mack plays the role of lead guard. This time Shumpert shouldn’t suffer a shooting slump because the balance of the offense will keep defenses from applying to much pressure on him at the three-point line.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t have a roster spot left in this move as it requires them to absorb Mack into their traded player’s exception. However, if they want to sign a player like Larry Sanders and keep Williams as well, they’ll have to waive Jordan McRae or find a team to take his contract.