The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a unique position. They’re good enough, both in record and performance (despite a horrible loss to the Hornets this week) to not need drastic changes, but so far behind the Warriors that they may need to take some risks with their reserves to try and improve the team. You’ll see this a lot with what I call “sub-contenders,” teams that are within range of a title but are unlikely barring unforeseen circumstances to actually win the title. You have a core that you won’t touch, but everything else is movable.
And with the Cavs being a title contender, the prospect of joining them is attractive to players who might be dealt. They can then urge their teams to get a deal done, which might help the Cavs keep the return cost down.
With that in mind, ESPN reports that not only are the Cavaliers making a lot of trade calls, but that they would “love” to make a deal for Wizards forward Jared Dudley.
The Cavaliers do have some trade chips. Timofey Mozgov, an expiring contract and a veteran rim protector, being one of them. Mozgov has struggled this season, but that only helps to make him a buy-low opportunity for other teams. The Cavs owe their first-round pick to Phoenix, but after that they have a full cupboard of first-round picks, and some second-round picks they’ve added in other deals which they can move.
Also, with LeBron James having a player option for next year, he’s theoretically an expiring contract, so they could move him for… just kidding.
Anderson Varejao‘s another name that comes up often. He’s in the last guaranteed year of his deal, meaning teams can waive him this summer and clear his remaining $20 million off the books. Dealing Varejao, a lifelong Cavalier, would be brutal but business is business. With the Wizards wanting to go small, for instance, Varejao would give them a veteran player who can pass, play small-ball center, and score a little bit, though age and injuries have taken a lot out of him.
They’ve got other pieces, Mo Williams, for instance. So Cleveland can shop veteran quality players, and even dangle Matthew Dellavedova (whose value has never been higher — teams need to be very wary of that however; Dellavedova reads as a player who’s great for Cleveland but might struggle in a different situation) or Iman Shumpert if a bigger upgrade is within range. Presumably J.R. Smith is exempt from such talks due to his close relationship with LeBron.
Then there’s Kevin Love. After the Cavaliers destroyed the Spurs, the assumption was that he would be 100 percent off the market. Where that stands after the Cavs taking a huge step back vs. the Hornets is anyone’s guess.
It seems crazy that the best team in the East with a near-guaranteed slot in the Finals could fire their coach and be looking for significant roster changes by the All-Star break. However, the Cavs aren’t making moves out of desperation, they’re looking to be opportunistic. That’s how they should be, until they feel like they can go toe to toe with the Warriors. When you have a singular goal, you have to move in constant step toward that goal.
As for Dudley, his value to the Cavaliers is fascinating. He’s a total vet, who can knock down 3-pointers, defend, rebound, and run. The Wizards have been about six points per 100 possessions better with Dudley on the floor, better on both offense and defense. The Cavaliers’ success vs. Golden State, limited though it may be, has been by going big. But if they believe the only way to beat the Warriors is to match their smallball with a unit that’s just as effective… Dudley is the model of the guy you want to go get.
So it should come as no surprise that the Cavaliers are interested in getting him. Whether the Wizards have any interest, that’s an entirely different subject that’s anyone’s guess at this point.
Story provided by Matt Moore
