3 different ways Cavs can upgrade roster in a Jae Crowder trade

3 ways Cavs upgrade roster: Trade for Jae Crowder

It’s obvious, but it’s also the easiest way for the Cavs to get value from a Jae Crowder trade. This isn’t looking at centers or point guards available on the open market; the Cavs can directly use a player like Crowder on their roster, so trading for him straight-up fills a need and, depending on the trade cost, makes them a better team.

Crowder is a good defender, one who trends more toward guarding power forwards than wings at this point in his career. That is a major need on this roster, which bifurcates between elite big defenders and poor guard defenders. Crowder can start at the 3 and help check the best forward creators in the East: Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Pascal Siakam.

The other great part of fitting Crowder into a lineup is his level of comfort firing from 3-point range. Making 3-pointers is the most valuable skill, but just beyond that is taking them. It’s not Isaac Okoro’s poor percentage that makes him a huge offensive burden when on the court; it’s that he doesn’t take very many. The hope is that Okoro can increase his volume until, over time, he is shooting six threes per game. Crowder is already there.

The cost to a deal matters; are they moving Cedi Osman, Caris LeVert, or something in between? Is there draft capital heading out? Crowder isn’t a perfect fit, and his poor stint in Cleveland during the second LeBron James administration left a poor taste in many mouths. Addressing small forward another way could be on the table.