The Cleveland Cavaliers are motoring along this season and while they are playing well and have a good record and sitting in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, they still could potentially be looking to upgrade their roster with a shooter. While they have players like Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell leading the way, the team is still lacking a player that could step into the three spot in the starting lineup and make buckets.
Let’s take a look at three players that have been linked to the Wine and Gold and could become a team member by the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9.
Cavs potential trade target No. 3 to boost shooting: Bojan Bogdanovic
The veteran wing in Bojan Bogdanovic that currently plays for the Detroit Pistons is gathering a lot of interest, not only from the Cavs, but reportedly from other teams across the league. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career averaging 21 points this season the Pistons are in freefall and are looking to trade and gather assets, Bogdanovic will be likely traded before the trade day deadline on Feb. 9 it seems.
Cleveland has some very good shooters on the team, but they need more help in that area as they get closer to the postseason. Dean Wade is reported to be coming back to the Cavs shortly after a lengthy injury. Wade should help when he returns as he’s been an on and off starter for the Cavaliers but his primary strength is with his defense. But beyond Wade, the Cavs are still searching for that extra shooter. Cedi Osman has tried stepping in from time to time but hasn’t been given a good opportunity from his head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to really help the team.
Bogdanovic is a savvy veteran who’s been around the NBA for a decade. He was drafted by the Miami Heat back in 2011 at the end of the first round. However, he stayed in Turkey to play in the pro leagues over there. Finally, he came to the states and played for the Brooklyn Nets, and then played briefly for the Washington Wizards, then for the Indiana Pacers followed by the Utah Jazz, and now this year with the Pistons.
He’s averaged 15 points a game over his career. This season with the Pistons, he’s having a super year as far as points are concerned by averaging over 21. He’s putting up about six three-pointers a game and averaging at about 41% on the shots, and the Cavs need more shooters.
They have them in players like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, but they need another guy in the starting five who can create and take a shot and make it on the run. Isaac Okoro has been starting recently for Cleveland and while he’s playing better and scoring more, he still hasn’t been all that consistent on that end.