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.
No. 2: Acquire shooting, shooting, and even more shooting
Potential options: Reggie Bullock, Gary Trent Jr., Georges Niang
In the regular season, the Cavs shot 37% from three-point range, which was good enough for 12th in the league. However, that number dipped all the way to 33% in the playoffs and it was brutal to watch.
The Knicks were constantly playing off of the Cavaliers’ non-shooters like Isaac Okoro, and guys like Cedi Osman and Caris LeVert were not good enough shooters for the Knicks to respect. Adding spacing for Garland and Mitchell is essential. More shooting will unlock a new level for their offense.
Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. would be the dream acquisition for this team, as he is not only an 18-point-per-game scorer, but he is also a career 38% shooter from three-point range. He is also a versatile scorer. Dallas Mavericks forward Reggie Bullock would also be a great fit due to his spot-up shooting ability, as he is a career 38% shooter from three, and has not shot below 38% for the past three seasons.
Lastly, Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang is the perfect stretch four that the Cavs are lacking right now, and even though he is not good on defense, he is a helluva shooter. He has shot 40% from three for five consecutive seasons, and his ability to stretch the floor has opened up the floor for 76ers star center Joel Embiid.
All three guys would provide much-needed shooting, and if the Cavs can find a way to get two of them to fill out the depth on the roster, they will be in good shape. Trent might take a lot to acquire, but Bullock and Niang are in the realm of possibility for the Cavs.
No. 3: Sign a backup center
Potential options: Naz Reid, Xavier Tillman, Andre Drummond
Expecting Jarrett Allen to get a rebound in the last three games against the Knicks was like expecting pigs to fly. It was just not going to happen. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers had no options to turn to on their bench that were better than Allen, so they were stuck with him.
With his struggles against physicality, having a capable backup big would help. Bringing back Andre Drummond on a minimum contract would be a good move. Drummond was seen as the potential center of the future for the Cavs a couple of years back if things were to pan out.
But times have obviously changed, and he has now accepted his role as a depth piece. He is still one of the better rebounders in the NBA, as he averaged seven per game this year in 13 minutes of action. Xavier Tillman of the Memphis Grizzlies is also a good fit for the Cavs off the bench. He averaged eight rebounds per game these playoffs and filled in admirably for Steven Adams against the Los Angeles Lakers. The long shot here, though, might be Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid.
Reid had a career year for the Wolves this past season and offers a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor. He can stretch the floor and play in the paint on offense, and he is also stout defensively. He would be the perfect fit for the Cavaliers, but he is a long shot due to the price tag he might have. Reid may have played himself into a much more lucrative contract this offseason and teams will be lining up for his services. The Cavs do have the Non-taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to offer him though, so we will see if that will be enough.
Bottom line, any of these three guys would immediately upgrade the backup big spot, and do more than occupy a spot on the bench and fight mascots like Robin Lopez did this season.
These are three pressing needs for the Cavs and they need to be addressed in order for them to take the next step. The roster will almost assuredly be tweaked. The question is how?