Cleveland Cavaliers: Eric Moreland Is Still A Perfect Acquisition

The Cleveland Cavaliers have their eyes on Larry Sanders and Andrew Bogut but Eric Moreland looks like a better option at center.

While the Cleveland Cavaliers finish out their roster, both Derrick Williams and free agent point guard Deron Williams are expected to be in uniform for the Cavs during LeBron James’ annual playoff run. Andrew Bogut and Larry Sanders have a chance as well. Yet, it’s Eric Moreland who is the best center option of the trio.

Here’s a summary of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ current position.

James, who has been to six straight NBA Finals (an impressive feat only matched by the legendary Boston Celtics teams of the late 1950s and 1960s) is hell-bent on reaching a seventh straight NBA Finals series and demands the absolute best of the organization.

The Cavs have responded: Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have better conditioning and play better defense; general manager David Griffin acquired three sharpshooters in J.R. Smith, Channing Frye and Kyle Korver; and the Cavs have a bunch of versatile defenders in Iman Shumpert, DeAndre Liggins and Williams.

With that said, the Cleveland Cavaliers are indeed missing a veteran backup point guard (although the elder Williams is expected to sign with the Cavs soon). In addition, with Tristan Thompson as the lone center on the team and without another rim-protector, the Cavs are still missing a big man.

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However, without another roster spot to give, Jordan McRae is likely to be cut in the event that the Cavs want another big man.

Bogut, who has the best combination of size, experience and has underrated ability as a two-way player will be courted by multiple teams, including the Houston Rockets, should he complete a buyout with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Houston could appeal to Bogut since they’re championship contenders and need a center to backup Clint Capela as Nene shifts back to power forward, the position he primarily played the last four seasons with the Washington Wizards.

Bogut, who has never seemed to like LeBron much stemming from the latter’s battles with the Golden State Warriors, could also prefer playing with James Harden over being barked at by King James. Speaking of the Warriors, they could also sign Bogut.

Sanders, who was twenty pounds underweight two weeks ago but looked terrific in his workout with the Cavs, has missed the last two seasons as he’s dealt with off-the-court issues.

Asking Sanders to come in and have to potentially be an instant impact player off the bench for a championship contender led by James, while he’s getting into game shape after two years and adjusting to a different NBA than the one he left, is unfair. Sanders does have the talent to be in the NBA but he would be better off signing with the team in the offseason so that he can come in with less pressure be more game-ready.

If the Cavs need a big man, Moreland should still be on their radar. Moreland, who is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ designated affiliate player on the Canton Charge, their exclusive NBA D-League affiliate team, has an even better skillset than Thompson.

Moreland, a stat-stuffer with averages of 14.0 points, 11.6 rebounds (3.3 offensive), 2.6 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, is an agile and athletic big man who can defend on the perimeter and get back to protect the rim. Moreland also gets a lot of steals due to his solid positioning, long arms (7-foot-4 wingspan) and quick hands.

Offensively, he scores inside with a bevy of post moves, stretches the floor with a midrange shot he can hit consistently (shoots 47.6 percent on shots 10-14 feet from the rim) and can put the ball on the floor to attack the rim. A former point guard in high school, the 6-foot-10, 249 pound Moreland is also capable of dishing out nifty assists and displays solid court vision.

Whether or not the Cleveland Cavaliers would waive McRae to sign Moreland is unknown but teammate Quinn Cook was recently signed to a 10-day contract by the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.

Cook was a NBA D-League All-Star this season. Moreland was as well.

Will Moreland be the next to earn a call-up?

Signing Moreland would all come down to what the Cavs think of McRae. He’s good friends with James, Irving and Shumpert and he’s displayed solid scoring potential at times. Nonetheless, for those that remember, McRae is essentially the same player Jared Cunningham was for the Cavs last season before being traded to the Orlando Magic as part of a three-team deal that brought Frye to Cleveland. Cunningham now makes his basketball money overseas.

In any case, the young Turkish League sensation Cedi Osman will be a Cav next year and McRae’s spot could be his anyways.

Related Story: Tristan Thompson Is Worth Every Penny Of His $82 Million Contract

Do you think Eric Moreland could be the best big man pickup for the Cleveland Cavaliers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.