Lessons the Cavaliers can learn from the 4 NBA Conference Finals teams

Los Angeles Lakers

At the NBA trade deadline, LeBron James and the Lakers were nowhere close to reaching the NBA Playoffs. After their 2-10 start to the regular season, the Lakers were given a 0.3% chance to reach the postseason. They remembered that.

For months, the Lakers were in trade rumor after trade rumor to land LeBron’s former teammate Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster trade to save the season and make everything okay. Kyrie, though, ended up in Dallas a week before the deadline. On the day of the deadline, the Lakers traded for D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and more. Additionally, they had traded for Rui Hachimura shortly before the deadline. None of these players were All-Stars this year, and none of them were that “third star” people believed the Lakers needed.

Though LA would be swept in the Western Conference Finals against Denver, making it that far as the seventh seed with an almost entirely new rotation speaks volumes to the value that trading for depth rather than headlines has. The Lakers took down the emerging Memphis Grizzlies and the defending champion Warriors in the first two rounds. Their path to the Conference Finals was nothing easy. Once the Lakers had their star players, they built around them.

Now, there have been rumors of the Lakers being potentially interested in reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James, and one will have to see what transpires down the road with James, who is reportedly considering retirement. Regardless, it was clear LA dealing with meaningful for role players that fit with their current stars was pivotal for them in making their run.

With rumors of Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, and other star wing players circulating the NBA world, the Cavaliers should learn from the Lakers and trade for role players with determination. They have their stars, but they need depth. The Cavs are already likely on this trajectory, but they should not let a flashy headline obscure their path.