NBA Trade Rumors: Corey Brewer Would Bolster Cavaliers' Title Chances
The rest of the Eastern Conference may not want to hear it, but the Cleveland Cavaliers could be getting some reinforcements on their run to a potential NBA title.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com passed along a developing rumor regarding Corey Brewer:
"The Minnesota Timberwolves, fresh off heavy back-to-back losses in New Orleans and Dallas and in the latest indication of their growing focus on the future, are in active trade discussions with multiple contending teams pursuing veteran swingman Corey Brewer, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets have emerged as the most serious suitors for Brewer.
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While the Houston Rockets would be an intriguing option for Brewer considering their position as a Western Conference contender with Dwight Howard and James Harden, the Cavaliers at least don’t have to worry about the Los Angeles Clippers if this update from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne is any indication:
Before digging too far into this rumor from Cleveland’s point of view, this makes some sense from Minnesota’s perspective.
Brewer will turn 29 years old this season, and the Timberwolves are in full-blown rebuild mode after trading away Kevin Love this offseason. Trading Brewer could net a couple of young players or draft picks for Minnesota, which is exactly what a rebuilding franchise is always looking for with an eye on the future.
Stein noted that Cleveland owns a trade exception large enough to take on Brewer’s $4.7 million salary.
With LeBron James, Love and Kyrie Irving in tow, it is championship or bust for the Cavaliers this season. Defense has long been assumed to be their weakness ever since they traded Andrew Wiggins in a package for Love, and Brewer’s greatest asset is his ability as a perimeter stopper on that end of the floor.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders noted how bad it has been for Cleveland on defense in the early going this year:
He is versatile and athletic enough to defend guards or small forwards and can take some of the pressure off James on the defensive side. James has enough to worry about on offense to have to deal with the opponent’s best perimeter player on the defensive side for 82 games.
Brewer is averaging 1.7 steals a game in the early going, and, per NBA.com, is holding opponents to a minus-4.2 net defensive field-goal percentage overall and a minus-11.4 net defensive field-goal percentage on two-point shots. That means opponents shoot 4.2 percent worse on field goals against Brewer than they normally would and 11.4 percent worse on two-point shots.
If the Cavaliers suddenly became more formidable on the defensive side, they would look like an even more dangerous title contender.
Brewer is also a sold offensive player, especially in transition. Stein pointed out that he was particularly effective off of Love’s impressive outlet passes in Minnesota, and fans would get to see that combination yet again in Cleveland.
One reason that Brewer is impressive in transition is his speed. He commented on that ability when he was in Denver, via Aaron J. Lopez of the Nuggets' team website: “I always feel like I’m the fastest guy on the court, no matter what. When I get out and run, I feel I can outrun people.”
Brewer averaged more than 12 points a game in 2013-14 for Minnesota and 2012-13 for Denver. He is not the best three-point shooter (29.4 percent on his career), but he can attack the rim with speed off the bounce or as a slasher without the ball.
Outside of the defense and underrated offense, Brewer would boost Cleveland’s title chances because it would give it more depth at the shooting guard/small forward position. The Cavaliers are going to make the playoffs and need James to be relatively fresh by the postseason.
James is averaging 39 minutes a night, and it is only November. The overall mileage on his almost-30-year-old legs could be a long-term issue for Cleveland, especially if it plans on playing deep into the postseason.
Brewer would give the Cavaliers another option to reduce James’ minutes load, especially since the former Florida Gator can play multiple positions.
Defense and the overall wear and tear on James may be the two biggest concerns for Cleveland. Brewer would immediately address them both.
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