NBA Trade Rumors: Analyzing Cavaliers' Interest in Kosta Koufos, Tayshaun Prince

After a surprisingly lukewarm start to the 2014 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are finally beginning to make good on their immense promise.

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and company are 12-7, sit atop the Central Division in the Eastern Conference and are riding a seven-game winning streak, with their latest victory coming in a 110-88 demolition of the Brooklyn Nets.

The Cavs appear to have figured out the secret to rolling over their NBA competition, but that hasn't stopped trade rumors involving the team from springing up.

According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Cavaliers are still in search of a viable rim protector and the Memphis Grizzlies are a potential trade partner:

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Far more worrisome to the Cavs than their uneven 11-7 start is the lack of a proven presence at the rim to help stiffen their defense for the long term. That's why Cleveland, sources say, has been inquiring with the Memphis Grizzlies about the availability of reserve center Kosta Koufos among their various trade pursuits. 

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The Kosta Koufos rumor comes right on the heels of statements from ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst (h/t ESPN Cleveland), who cited Memphis forward Tayshaun Prince as a potential target for the Cavaliers:

A rim protector makes loads of sense for the Cavaliers. Opponents are shooting 63.1 percent from within five feet of the basket.

Kevin Love can siphon up a rebound with the best of them, but players are not afraid to attack him when he is at the basket. Opposing players are shooting 59.5 percent at the rim at a rate of 7.3 attempts per game against Love. 

Tristan Thompson offers more value as an offensive rebounder, although center Anderson Varejao is a solid interior defender in his own right.

Koufos is a 7'0", 265-pound, rangy center who should be well-versed in the dark arts of playing gritty, determined defense after one-plus seasons backing up the likes of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph in Memphis.

He's not too shabby at protecting the paint, as players are shooting 49.4 percent against him at the rim.

Prince is an interesting name to hear in trade talks, as he hasn't produced much this season and the Cavaliers have a multitude of players capable of playing small forward.

Prince is a long-armed wing with his own history of playing on strong defensive teams as a member of the Detroit Pistons in the mid-2000s. He could be of use in this regard, although one would think the Cavs might be better served by injecting some youth into the lineup behind the likes of James and Shawn Marion.

Of course, one has to wonder whom or what the Cavaliers might give up for either Koufos and/or Prince. Windhorst cited the Cavs trade exception, while Stein notes that Dion Waiters is a possible trade piece:

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Sources say that the Cavs are well aware landing a quality big man likely depends on selling on potential trade partners to take back polarizing shooting guard Dion Waiters. Cleveland rates Waiters' talent highly, but sources maintain that the Cavs have let a number of teams know they are prepared to surrender him if they can acquire a difference-making center in return. 

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Waiters would be a tough talent to part with for any team. He's a creative wing-scorer who averaged 15.9 points per game in 2013-14, and at 22 years old, he is just ripe with potential.

However, the Cavs' recent string of successes have come without much of a contribution from Waiters, which could simply make him surplus to requirements in Cleveland.

The Syracuse product has scored just 68 points in the team's last seven games, with 26 of those coming in the Cavs aforementioned blowout win over the Nets. He was a viable threat from long range last season, but Waiters has lost the touch and is shooting just 24.2 percent from beyond the arc this year.

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

Bob Finnan of The News-Herald documented Waiters' struggles to fit in this season:

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Waiters is still getting regular minutes for the Cavaliers (11-7), who have won a season-high six games in a row.

Those minutes could dwindle if he continues to slide.

If Cavaliers coach David Blatt had a legitimate option, he’d likely take it. He’s already moved Shawn Marion into the starting lineup at “2.”

Veteran Mike Miller seemed poised to eat into Waiters’ minutes off the bench, but suffered a concussion in the New York game Dec. 4.

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However, coach David Blatt doesn't appear to be giving up on the wayward guard.

"We work together,” he said, via Finnan. “Dion is part of us and we’re part of him. When anything happens with any player, No. 1 it’s my responsibility and our responsibility."

The Grizzlies could be swayed by his immense potential considering neither Koufos nor Prince are integral components to their wildly successful start to the season. Prince has played in just 11 of the team's 20 games this season, while Koufos averages just 14.1 minutes per game.

Koufos isn't the best rim protector potentially available to the Cavaliers, but he might just be the one who is actually within Cleveland's reach.

Taking on Prince in a deal would be worth the risk, as he does have championship experience and could end up providing solid relief to an aging Marion, allowing him to play harder in fewer minutes.

Prince wouldn't be worth trading for on his own, but he's worth bringing in if it pushes through a trade that can solidify Cleveland for the long run toward a long-awaited NBA championship.

Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of NBA.com.