True championship-contending teams are able to overcome their flaws. Usually, it’s because they either have multiple transcendent talents that can carry a team or the team is well-balanced with threats at each position. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Cavaliers showed that their flaws were too great to overcome in their lopsided first-round loss to the New York Knicks.
Weaknesses that have existed from the beginning of the season reared their ugly head in the playoffs. Their lack of offensive firepower outside of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland was concerning. The shooting that was good enough to get by in the regular season was woeful. The depth that has been up and down all season did not do anything to help the starters when they needed it.
Fortunately for the Cavs, they do not need to make major changes to the roster. Only minor tweaks are needed. Here are my top three needs they need to fix.
No. 1: Acquire a backup point guard
Potential Options: Alex Caruso, Dennis Smith Jr., Monte Morris
The Cavs were hoping that when they re-signed Ricky Rubio last offseason that he would at least be somewhere close to the player he was for them in their turnaround last season. However, Rubio was not nearly the same player when he returned, as he finished the regular season averaging 5 points per game on 34% from the field and a measly 26% from three-point range.
Despite setting the bar for his play incredibly low, Rubio’s play somehow got worse in the Knicks series, as he finished with a grand total of zero points in the series (like yours truly) and looked better off in a retirement home.
He was ruthlessly hunted on defense. He looked overwhelmed by the Knicks’ defensive scheme. He was supposed to alleviate the pressure off of Mitchell and Garland and he failed miserably. It is hard to come back from two ACL surgeries in an NBA career, and the Cavaliers should not be holding out hope that Rubio will return to form. They need to upgrade at the backup point guard spot.
Trading for Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls will give them a high-level defender and floor general off the bench. Dennis Smith Jr has had a mini-career resurrection with the Charlotte Hornets and his athleticism and playmaking could be vital for the Cavs. Monte Morris of the Washington Wizards has been a consistent playmaker and solid scorer off the bench throughout his career.
All three are significantly better than Rubio, and all three could be realistic enough for the Cavs to acquire. Caruso is a long shot, but the Cavs should at least give the Bulls a call. The bottom line is that the Cavs should look into acquiring a backup playmaker for their bench if they want to advance in the postseason.