A brief look at the Cleveland Cavaliers current roster and depth chart for 2017-2018

Power forward

Jae Crowder

Jeff Green

Channing Frye

Jae Crowder is a New Age power forward who has the ability to defend multiple positions and stretch the floor as a three-point threat. He reminds me a lot of Shane Battier, a tough and intelligent player who started behind LeBron James in the Miami Heat frontcourt and guarded the toughest scorers because he had the ability to be a pest on the defensive end. Crowder (27-years-old) is younger, more active as a defender and a better scorer than Battier was at that stage in his career (Battier was 33-years-old in his first season with the Heat). That may bode well for the Cavs, as the Heat won two rings in the three seasons that Battier played for the franchise. Crowder could be the glue piece that allows James to excel and James playing at his best goes a long way to the Cavs playing at their best. Behind Crowder is Jeff Green, an athletic and versatile player who can handle the ball and get to the rim whether in halfcourt or in transition. Crowder and Green are two players who can be solid defensive pieces for the Cavs. Behind Crowder and Green will be Channing Frye, a great locker room presence and spot-starter as a power forward or center so head coach Tyronn Lue can keep his rotation set in the event of an injury. Unlike Crowder and Green, Frye is slow-footed. However, Frye has been one of the best stretch bigs in the NBA for his entire career, something that neither Crowder or Green can say (although Crowder has become a solid three-point threat).