The Cleveland Cavaliers made the surprising decision to stand pat at the NBA Trade Deadline, not trading for any of the myriads of wings they were linked to in the weeks leading up. Some of their targets were traded elsewhere, and others were too expensive, but the primary reason was that President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman didn’t want to spend the team’s limited assets on a lateral move.
That approach makes sense, especially in light of how well the Cavaliers have been playing at full health. They won their fifth-straight game last night, all by double-digits, and are second only to the Boston Celtics in net rating on the season. Altman and the organization wanted to see this group together in the playoffs before firing some of the last of their bullets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were careful at the trade deadline, but they still could use some help.
That approach, while defensible and very possibly correct, doesn’t change the fact that the Cavaliers still could use a 3-and-D wing. With one open roster spot and the possibility of waiving Dylan Windler, the Cavs can be active on the buyout market if the right kind of player comes available.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff probably wouldn’t start someone off the street over Isaac Okoro, but they could step into the rotation in a bench role and potentially close in the right matchups. The value of adding a two-way wing is that he is versatile and unlocks a variety of lineup options.
Is there a wing on the buyout market who could actually fit their need? There certainly aren’t many as teams tend to hoard those kinds of players, but one player traded at the deadline could fit the bill: Danny Green.
The 13-year veteran began his career in Cleveland, playing 20 games in 2009-10 before he was waived the following fall. He caught on with the San Antonio Spurs, where he developed into an elite 3-and-D player who started and won titles with the Spurs, the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Most recently, he was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Memphis Grizzlies this past offseason after tearing his ACL, and then despite coming to play in three games was moved in a three-team trade to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets are in all-out tank mode and just waived John Wall, another player they acquired on Thursday. It’s very possible they agree to a buyout with Danny Green as well.
Green would be a perfect fit for the Cavaliers, assuming he’s healthy. He is a career 39.9 percent 3-point shooter and a savvy wing defender, the exact archetype that the Cavs have lacked. Given his age and the fact that he is coming off of a knee injury, the Cavaliers’ depth could allow him to ease back into things and be fresh for the playoffs.
On the court, Green would be a perfect fit for what this team needs. He can also be a good fit off the court, joining Kevin Love as a veteran leader who has been to the NBA Finals before and can teach this team what it takes. That doesn’t solve the lack of experience among this young core, but it helps cast a vision for rising above it.
It’s completely unclear where Green might want to go on the buyout market. He may want to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers and play alongside LeBron James for the third time. He could sign with the Milwaukee Bucks or Phoenix Suns to pursue a title. Yet joining the Cavs would bring his career full circle, and it would place him on a team that truly needs him.
The second that Green hits the buyout market the Cavaliers should place the call and see if he would like to come back to Cleveland. It’s unusual for a player to be available this late in the season and fill such a need, but Danny Green is just that. He would be a perfect fit.