Two All-Star level players the Cavs should consider targeting
The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing it safe before the trade deadline out of fear LeBron James could leave but a wise man once said you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take. The Cavs have to stop being scared to take a chance because that fear could ultimately be their undoing.
The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in a predicament with LeBron James’ upcoming free agency at the forefront of everyone’s mind. After acquiring the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, a savvy move by team owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavs could acquire a superstar or top-five pick in the NBA draft.
However, the Cavs’ gift seems to be a curse. A unique Catch 22 in which the very real possibility that James leaves in free agency has everyone frozen. Thinking.
Stop all of that. The reason James left the first time was because the Cavs couldn’t get top talent to the team.
They brought in some good players. Players like Mo Williams, Larry Hughes, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Wally Szczerbiak were solid pickups. They weren’t perennial All-Star, future Hall of Fame type players in their prime though.
The top players they brought in during James’ tenure? Here’s the list:
* 26-year-old Mo Williams
* 33-year-old Antawn Jamison
*27-year-old Larry Hughes
* 37-year-old Shaquille O’Neal
* 31-year-old Wally Szczerbiak
* 24-year-old Delonte West
* 33-year-old Ben Wallace
It’s a long list filled with some names that were more high-profile than others (O’Neal, Wallace, Jamison), players that had All-Star level seasons (Williams) and players that were just good. That’s what the Cavs are kind of doing now.
That is if you see similarities between players like Williams and Isaiah Thomas or Szczerbiak and Kyle Korver. Or a 36-year-old Dwyane Wade and O’Neal.
Statistically, Kevin Love’s numbers aren’t all too different from what Jamison’s were ten years into his career. The biggest difference is that Love was acquired by the Cavs when he was 26-years-old and still in the prime of his career.
So are the Cavs really doing anything different to keep James? The Cleveland Cavaliers could go for talents like DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, DeAndre Jordan or Marc Gasol but if they don’t become available, there are other All-Star level talents to consider.