The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference after losing close battles against the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers did beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, but are still fifth in the East.
Sure, Donovan Mitchell didn’t play in those games, but Cavs fans can’t really use that as an excuse for that Warriors loss. Injuries happen and they always will. Using injuries as a crutch is foolish, as every team will face injuries at some point.
However, there are some things that the Cavs need to work on to be able to succeed in the playoffs. Obviously, a championship would be phenomenal, but I am not sure if it’s possible considering how the roster is constructed. This team is too top-heavy, as the scoring outside of the top four players isn’t all that great.
Anyway, the Cavaliers are still a great team, nonetheless. They should still make the playoffs, considering how talented their roster is. The chemistry on the roster seems to be unbreakable, and the team is very skilled on offense and defense, as well.
But like mentioned before, there are things the Cavs should work on and try to fix. Every team always has its weaknesses, and Cleveland is no different. The trade deadline isn’t too far from now, so we’ll see if anything happens on the trade front, if the Cavs do make a move.
Before I get into how the Cavs can increase their title odds, let’s look at what the team is good at. The Cavs do have the 2nd-best defensive rating, only behind the Memphis Grizzlies. Their field goal percentage is 8th in the league, hitting 48.2% of their field goals in total this season. Other than that, the Cavs aren’t top 10 in any real major stats in the league. They’re around average or below average for points, assists, steals, blocks, and 3-point percentage. So other than defense, the Cavs aren’t really a super amazing team.
So what do the Cavs really need on the roster? Well, it’s hard to say. My opinion can be different than other peoples’ opinions, and that’s okay. There is no clear-cut and easy way to get the Cavs to become a powerhouse team in the NBA, so the path to the championship isn’t as easy as Cavs fans would hope. Anyway, without further ado, here are three ways that the Cavs could increase their title odds.
1. Trade Caris LeVert
I’ll admit — I hate on Caris LeVert a bit too much. He’s a solid scorer and he is a good secondary playmaker. However, I think he is the most inconsistent player in the league. I never know what to expect out of him whenever he suits up for Cleveland.
“If he’s good offensively, why would the Cavs trade him?” you may be asking. Advanced stats are one of my favorite things to look at when it comes to basketball players, and LeVert’s advanced stats aren’t pleasing. His offensive rating is the 16th-worst in the league at 107.0. His defensive rating is 111.9, which isn’t terrible, but the Cavs would definitely like it to be better if he wants to be the primary small forward. He’s also shooting 41.8% from the field, and it seems he takes too many contested shots whenever I watch him play.
Yes, LeVert does have a +/- of +112, which is a great sign to see. His 3.7 assists per game are definitely welcomed, considering he isn’t usually the primary playmaker. However, he is on an expiring contract, and I am not sure what he wants in free agency. If the Cavs do trade him, they might be able to get something solid in return, but we’ll see.
2. Extend Kevin Love’s contract
Last season, Kevin Love was a tremendous sixth man, averaging 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. His leadership and bench play were a big factor in the Cavs’ drastic improvement from the 2020-21 season to the 2021-22 season. I mean, it seems like Kevin Love really likes playing for the Cavs, so why not extend his contract?
The Cavaliers are already going to be under the cap for next season, so Love’s contract won’t be the end of the world. Sure, he is already 34 years old, but extending him for another year isn’t a terrible idea. He is averaging a career-low in points and rebounds, averaging 8.7 points and 7.1 boards a night. He is also shooting 38.2% from the field, which isn’t promising. However, I do think he is able to be a better player come playoff time since he’s the only Cavalier on the roster who has made the NBA Finals in his career.
Maybe a one-year, and then a team option afterward would be a smart idea. Something around the ballpark of $10 million or less per year. I believe Love would want to stay in Cleveland, as he’s already been playing here since the 2014-15 season. Also, the Cavs look like a contender, so I don’t know where else he is thinking of going.
3. Finding cheap wings
As it stands right now, the Cavs have a plethora of wings: Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman, Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro, and Lamar Stevens, just to name the main guys. None of them are really amazing distance shooters besides Wade, who is shooting 41.1% from deep. None of these guys are really lockdown defenders besides Okoro, who is a great defender. However, there are some players the Cavs could trade for or sign that could fill in the spot as another small forward.
David Nwaba is a great wing, a terrific finisher, and a solid defender. He played for the Cavs before in the 2018-19 season. He averaged 6.5 points, but he shot 32.0% from deep. Maybe if the Cavaliers were to waive a player to create room, they could sign Nwaba.
Another player is a fan favorite, Carmelo Anthony. Yes, he’s not a great defender, far from it. But, he is a good scorer and would provide a scoring boost for the bench unit. He averaged 13.3 points per game last season, primarily playing off of the bench. He also shot 37.5% from deep, which is good.
My last player is Derrick Jones Jr., and he shouldn’t be too difficult to trade for. He is making $3.2 million and has a player option for next season. Maybe the Cavs could offer two second-round picks and Dylan Windler, and the deal could get done. He is a great finisher, one of the league’s best. He is shooting 51.9% from the field while only being 6-foot-5. Jones also is a solid defender, having a wingspan of 7’0.”
To sum it all up, the Cavs might need a bit more fine-tuning for their roster, and then maybe they’d be able to really go far in the playoffs. However, that remains to be seen, and I for one, am excited to see what the rest of the season holds.