Cleveland Cavaliers: Jeremy Lamb could be the steal of trade SZN

Two integral role pieces

Lamb is a very solid bench scorer, who can be effective at filling it up from all three levels. Lifetime, he’s a 66.6 percent finisher on shots 0-3 feet from the rim, 42.6 percent on shots 10-16 feet out, 41.1 percent on shots 16 feet out to the three-point line, and is shooting a respectable 34.5 percent from three-point range this year, per Basketball-Reference.

He’s proven he can create for himself off the bounce throughout his time in the league. This season, Lamb has placed in the 72nd percentile among scorers in isolation, per Synergy. He’s consistently able to finish in the midrange area with floaters, pull-up buckets off of space created from well-timed hang dribbles, and he’s able to attack bigs in pick-and-roll sets to warrant free throws.

On a Cavs team that is not filled with reliable isolation threats, that would definitely help create more space for others.

Coupled with that, Lamb is good off-ball both cutting to the rim (1.75 points per possession in cutting situations, per Synergy) and in working to warrant spot-up or catch-and-shoot plays from flare screens that lead to perimeter looks.

He’s a much-improved spot-up guy, and would greatly benefit with James throwing him dimes. The Cavs are already able to get so many open looks from the corner with the vision and physical presence of LeBron, and Lamb could feast from there, like Kyle Korver, Kevin Love, and Jeff Green have.

Cleveland Cavaliers

So far this season, Lamb has drastically improved in that area, as he’s converting on a career-best 43.3 percent of his corner triples. With the ability of James to drive and kick, and with Lamb already having a relationship with Walker, that percentage could be even higher with more shooters spacing the floor around him in Cleveland.

Overall, Lamb has placed in the 63rd percentile in spot-up situations this season, per Synergy. To compare, the aforementioned Batum, who costs a whole lot more, is just in the 24th percentile of spot-up threats, which does not bode well for the Cavs in the playoffs, when the paint is more crowded. Just to cover all bases with the spot-ups in this trade, Walker placed in the 73rd percentile in that play type, and Williams placed in the 87th, per Synergy.

Along with that, Lamb has gotten better the last few seasons as a secondary playmaker. This season, he’s posting a career-high in assists per game and rarely makes mistakes with the ball. That would help the Cavs, who have had considerable problems with live-ball turnovers since Thomas has been in the lineup.

Against long, athletic defenses like the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Golden State Warriors, you can never have enough bigger guards/wings who can make things happen for teammates. In spots, Lamb could fill that role with Walker or James on the bench, and Wade or Green could get more production from cuts or putbacks weak side.

Let’s not dismiss the addition of Williams as a reliable scorer, either. The veteran big is able to put up buckets as a small-ball four and is a suitable three in more traditional lineups, such as when Love returns from injury. He’s averaging a solid 9.5 points per game and is posting a career-high 62.4 true shooting percentage. He is 13th among qualified players in that metric this season, and is tenth in offensive rating, per Basketball-Reference.

Last but not least, all three of these Charlotte pieces would at least not hurt the already dreadful Cavs defense.