A Cavalier Reconstruction: Moves That Keep Cleveland in the Playoffs

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Contrary to many people's opinions... there will be basketball in Cleveland next season.

Losing LeBron James is obviously the biggest blow the Cavaliers organization has had to face in a long time, but they will rebuild and rebound.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a coach in place in Byron Scott who is familiar with the art of rebuilding a franchise, and I would like to say he has been successful each time.

Looking at the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, they do have assets and players in place to make another run at the playoffs this season.

Losing LeBron James, according to John Hollinger's player ranking system last season, says the Cavaliers will lose out on 20-24 wins with their current roster.

Last time I checked, that's still a borderline playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

Obviously, the Cavaliers will have quite the challenge in replacing the production of LeBron James.

He averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game last season.

Those are some gaudy numbers to make up next season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it's not impossible.

Teams often went one on five when facing the Cavaliers offense, but next season, the team should have a much more balanced attack.

Remember, the scenarios in this article are based on rumors that I have researched, trades that I have constructed, and fits that I feel would be good for the organization.

I am not an NBA General Manager so don't shoot me if you don't like these moves.

As always sit back, relax, and don't forget to comment!

Current Roster Situation

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a unique roster situation.

After not having to pay LeBron, they are currently at $49 million in committed salary for next season with 10 players under contract.

That means that under the salary cap of $58 million, the Cavaliers have $9 million to work with in free agency.

They also have an interesting dilemma with Delonte West.

He is owed $4.6 million for next season, but only $500,000 of it is guaranteed if he is waived before August 1st.

This means that the Cavaliers could technically have $13 million to work with in free agency if they decide on waiving Delonte West.

The Cavaliers depth chart currently looks like this:

PG: Mo Williams/Daniel Gibson/Sebastian Telfair
SG: Anthony Paker/Delonte West
SF: Jamario Moon
PF: Antawn Jamison/J.J. Hickson/Leon Powe
C: Anderson Varejao/Jawad Williams

While that roster won't be preparing for the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers do have a scoring point guard, a veteran power forward with savvy in Jamison, an NBA-proven Varejao, and the young stud in J.J. Hickson.

They have the expiring contracts of Telfair, Parker, West, and Powe to work with in any type of trade as well.

Raymond Running the Point

One of the things that Cleveland fans have been clamoring for over the past seven years is a distributing point guard.

Well, it just so happens that one of those is currently available.

Raymond Felton averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 assists for the Charlotte Bobcats last season.

While bringing him to Cleveland would probably command around five years and $40 million dollars, he would be the floor general on offense and a HUGE defensive upgrade over the shoot-first Mo Williams.

Obviously, bringing in Raymond Felton would spell the end for Mo Williams with the Cavaliers, but there are plenty of teams out there looking for a shoot-first point guard.

Time for Youth and Size at the Two

The Cleveland Cavaliers need to get younger and more athletic at the shooting guard position.

Enter Anthony Morrow of the Warriors.

He averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season while shooting 47 percent from the field.

He is a free agent right now, and the Cavaliers could offer him a deal in the four-year, $20 million dollar range and probably take him away from the Golden State Warriors.

He would obviously be replacing the duo of Anthony Parker and Delonte West who are likely on their way out, so this deal makes sense in terms of depth for the Cavailers.

Saving the Sixers Money, Solidifying the Two

The Philadelphia Sixers have been reported as looking to move the larger contracts they have on their books.

One of those is Andre Iguodala.

He is owed 12.3 million this year, and his salary only gets larger throughout the next three seasons.

The Cavaliers can offer the Sixers straight cap relief, with $4.1 million coming off the books before the season starts if they decide to get rid of Delonte West.

The deal would look like this:

Sixers Get:
Delonte West- $4.6 million
Anthony Parker- $2.8 million
Sebastian Telfair- $2.1 milllion

Cavaliers Get:
Andre Iguodala- $12.3 million

This would be a complete salary dump on behalf of the Sixers, and it would go perfectly with Dan Gilbert's win-now philosophy.

Prying Granger Away from Indy

The Indians Pacers have been looking for a scoring point guard all offseason long, and with the Cavaliers signing Raymond Felton on the earlier slide, trading Mo Williams could be just what the doctor ordered.

I'm not sure if the Pacers would be interested in Mo Williams as their point guard of the future, but I am sure that they just drafted a carbon copy of Danny Granger in Paul George.

George is more athletic than Granger, and costs about $8 million less next season.

A deal with Cleveland could look like this:

Cleveland gets:
Danny Granger- $10.9 million

Indiana gets:
Mo Williams- $9.3 million
Jawad Williams- $1.1 million

Jawad Williams is basically just a filler in this deal, and could be subbed out for a guy like Leon Powe if the Pacers want a bigger, rebounding power forward instead of a shooter.

This deal may be a long shot, but it could reap instant rewards for the Cavaliers if they find the Pacers ready and willing to deal.

Adding a Scoring Guard to the Mix

Monta Ellis is just another option the Cavaliers could explore if they can't grab Iguodala or Granger.

He averaged 25.5 points per game last season, so his scoring production would almost fill in for that of LeBron's.

Ellis is a shoot-first shooting guard and doesn't fit the prototypical 6'6" mold of that position in the NBA, but beefing up around him could allow him space to operate.

The Warriors have been looking to move him for quite some time, but would want a comparable package in return.

I would say that any deal bringing Ellis to Cleveland would center around Daniel Gibson's $4.1 million, and the expiring contracts that the Cavaliers have to offer if they can't acquire Iguodala.