5 Big Men Cleveland Cavaliers Should Chase in NBA Trade Market
Heading into the 2014-15 season, depth at the power forward and center positions was a concern for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After recent events, that concern should now become a borderline panic.
With starting center Anderson Varejao done for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Cleveland is even thinner up front.
After power forward Kevin Love and center Tristan Thompson, the Cavs don't have a single proven, productive big man. Coach David Blatt has been hesitant to use Brendan Haywood, Lou Amundson and Alex Kirk—even without Varejao in the rotation.
In two games as the team's new starting center, Thompson is averaging 38.5 minutes. Love has already been logging 37.4 ticks in December.
The Cavaliers desperately need some extra paint help to give their current duo a break, providing a postseason push in 2015.
Greg Swartz has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for Bleacher Report since 2010.
All stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Contract data via HoopsHype.com.
Samuel Dalembert, C, New York Knicks
1 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 4.0 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.3 BLK, 17.0 MIN, 12.1 PER
Contract Details: One year, $3.9 million
Perhaps the easiest center to acquire on this list, Dalembert still has a little left in the tank.
Speaking of tanking, the New York Knicks should easily be considered sellers come trade season. They're off to a 5-28 start and have lost eight straight games.
Dalembert's contract runs out after the season. With New York likely looking to maximize their cap space to provide Carmelo Anthony with a second star, the 33-year-old center almost certainly won't be re-signed.
While not a franchise-changing player by any means, Dalembert would be great for 15-18 minutes off the bench. He's got good size at 6'11" and 255 pounds and has averaged 1.7 blocks over his 13-year career.
The Cavaliers could absorb Dalembert's contract using their $5.3 million trade exception acquired via a deal involving Keith Bogans earlier this year.
Timofey Mozgov, C, Denver Nuggets
2 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 9.0 PTS, 8.2 REB, 1.2 BLK, 26.0 MIN, 15.0 PER
Contract Details: Two years, $9.6 million
According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs have been interested in Mozgov since last summer, even offering a first-round pick.
While the Nuggets were hesitant to bite then, it appears they're already out of the Western Conference playoff picture after a 13-18 start to the season. That record might fly in the East, but in the mighty West, Denver is nearly five games out of the final playoff seed.
If they haven't already done so, Cleveland should come knocking again.
Unlike Dalembert, just offering the trade exception won't work. Mozgov is an impressively built 7'1" and 250 pounds. He's allowing opponents to shoot just 47 percent at the rim (per NBA.com) and previously played for Blatt on the Russian national team.
Cleveland needs size, and Mozgov might be the best available.
The Cavaliers could offer a 2015 first-round pick (via Memphis Grizzlies, protected 1-5 and 15-30), Lou Amundson and a young big in Kirk for Mozgov and veteran Nate Robinson.
Bismack Biyombo, F/C, Charlotte Hornets
3 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 3.6 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.3 BLK, 12.8 MIN, 15.8 PER
Contract Details: Two years, $9.5 million (qualifying offer)
When it comes to swatting away shots, few in the NBA do it more often than Biyombo.
In fact, on a per-minute basis, Biyombo ranks second in the league in blocks behind only Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, via ESPN.com.
The problem with Biyombo, and the reason he's not seeing much playing time in Charlotte, is his poor offensive game.
With the Cavaliers, his scoring would hardly be needed. Just coming off the bench to protect the rim and provide Cleveland with a little defense inside would match up better with his strengths overall.
While probably a little overpriced given his offensive limitations, the Cavaliers could choose whether or not to extend Biyombo a qualifying offer next summer, giving them some financial flexibility in the process.
The Hornets are 10-21 and could very well become sellers soon. A trade exception and young player might be all it takes to get a deal done.
Kosta Koufos, C, Memphis Grizzlies
4 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 4.5 PTS, 4.2 REB, 1.0 BLK, 15.1 MIN, 14.5 PER
Contract Details: One year, $3 million
One of the only players in the NBA with a hairline worse than LeBron James, Koufos would be a nice addition to the Cavaliers.
Marc Stein of ESPN reported in early December that Cleveland wanted to bring the Canton-born Koufos back to the area:
"And Koufos, regarded as one of the league's more underrated interior defenders thanks to the limited minutes he gets behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, would certainly qualify.
"
How willing the Grizzlies are to part with Koufos, meanwhile, remains to be seen.
Koufos is a former Ohio State star who's transformed into a solid role player in the NBA. Among guys facing four or more shots at the rim, Koufos ranks 12th in the league (allowing just 44.5 percent), via NBA.com.
The Cavs could offer Dion Waiters, but minutes might be tough to come by behind Courtney Lee, Vince Carter and Tony Allen. Instead, Cleveland could trade the first-rounder it acquired from the Grizzlies in 2013 along with a trade exception and veteran player like Amundson.
For Koufos, who could walk in the offseason, that wouldn't be a bad haul for Memphis.
John Henson, F/C, Milwaukee Bucks
5 of 5
2014-15 Stats: 4.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.4 BLK, 13.0 MIN, 17.6 PER
Contract Details: Three years, $8.8 million (qualifying offer)
Although not officially on the trade block, Henson remains an intriguing option for the Cavaliers.
A long, lanky defender, Henson has been very good while playing center this season. According to 82games.com, he's registering a 19.5 PER while at the 5, holding opponents to a 15.4 PER.
Henson's defensive game is based on his amazing shot-blocking ability. He's averaging a whopping 3.8 blocks per 36 minutes and possesses a defensive rating of 102 this season.
His 8.8 block percentage would rank first in the NBA if given enough minutes to qualify. That's a whole point higher than second-place Gobert (7.7 percent). Cleveland's highest qualified player is Thompson at just 2.7 percent.
Somewhat overshadowed in the Bucks' young rotation, Henson has played 20 minutes or more just one time all season. Milwaukee, already averaging under 100 points this year, needs even more offensive help with rookie Jabari Parker out with a torn ACL.
The Cavaliers should offer Waiters to help fill a major need for both teams. No trade exception, draft picks or veterans necessary.
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