5 Trade Targets Cleveland Cavaliers Should Pursue to Help Fix Defense
Balance is important in the NBA.
The star-stuffed Cleveland Cavaliers are an imbalanced team.
Finding offense hasn't been a problem to start 2014-15. Even as the Cavaliers go through the offensive motions, trying to establish collective synergy, they're scoring in bunches—at the second-most efficient rate in the league, no less. Such is the luxury of employing LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.
Defense is another story. The Cavaliers rank 25th in defensive efficiency and lack the depth to progress internally. If they want to improve on that end, taking to the trade market in search of outside help is the smart, aggressive play.
"No one is untouchable, and you're never done building a team, so we're always paying attention to what opportunities are out there," general manager David Griffin told Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes. "My tendency is always trying to do what we can do to improve the roster."
Potential defensive upgrades are out there. The rumor mill isn't awash with scenarios this time of year, but there are players the Cavaliers can target within reason. We just need to identify them.
Rim protection will be the primary focus, though not the only one. Cleveland ranks 23rd in opponent field-goal percentage at the iron and needs someone who can deter dribble drives and general penetration.
Some of the following suggestions will be out there. But that's the point. The Cavaliers didn't wind up with James, Irving and Love by dreaming small last summer. Sometimes, you have to think big and be bold. And sometimes, like right now, that means working the phones in search of creative solutions to pressing problems.
Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets
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Positional logjams can be serious problems. When there are logjams at every position, though, it's hell on rotations.
Enter the 2014-15 Denver Nuggets, who bear a striking resemblance to the 2013-14 Sacramento Kings, in that they inexplicably have too many options at every spot. And this excess of depth isn't working wonders; it's hauling havoc. The Nuggets have nine players averaging at least 15 minutes per game, one player scoring more than 15 points and a whole lot of two-way issues that need tending.
Allow the Cavaliers—who Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (via NBC Sports) said were interested in Timofey Mozgov over the summer—to help aid the cause.
Mozgov has started most of the Nuggets' games, but they also have J.J. Hickson and JaVale McGee on the docket. Though dealing McGee would be preferable since he's making more, the Cavaliers don't have the salaries to match—unless they're cool with shipping out Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson in addition to Brendan Haywood's contract.
Mozgov is also a flashy enough upgrade for Cleveland. He's holding opponents to 54.2 percent shooting within six feet of the basket. Anderson Varejao and Love, by comparison, are allowing opposing players to shoot 57.4 percent and 72.3 percent (I know, right???), respectively, from that same distance.
Trading for Mozgov gives the Cavaliers a legitimate shot-blocker as well. He's registering 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes, and there's a chance he sends back more, once he receives the additional playing time that comes with relocating to Cleveland.
Possible Trade: Dion Waiters, Brendan Haywood and 2015 first-round pick (via Memphis) for Timofey Mozgov and Randy Foye.
Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets
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Bismack Biyombo is buried on the Charlotte Hornets bench. Like, really buried. Six-jillion-feet-under buried.
Jason-Maxiell-is-ahead-of-him-in-the-rotation buried.
“He and I have been talking about this for two years now," Hornets coach Steve Clifford told the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell of his embattled big man. "He’s got to be a more consistent effort, defense and rebounding player.”
Indeed, Biyombo hasn't done much since being drafted seventh overall in 2011. His presence on the glass fluctuates, and his offensive game is, shall we say, limited—he made just six shots outside eight feet last season. Still, as Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman explained, he can be an asset:
"For Biyombo, it's all about activity. That's how bottom-level guys like Joel Anthony and Ekpe Udoh have lasted. Challenging shots, making rotations, cleaning the glass, putting back misses, tipping back loose balls—that's what Biyombo can do to regain his spot back in the rotation and ultimately the NBA's radar.
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Opponents are shooting just 46.2 percent inside six feet of the rim against Biyombo in the four games he's played, and the Cavaliers have enough offensive firepower to where he doesn't need to be a factor. Playing him alongside Love also diminishes the importance of his presence on the glass—though he's brought down 22 rebounds in 52 total minutes this year (15.2 per 36 minutes).
Acquiring him shouldn't be too much of an issue either. He's headed for restricted free agency, and with Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh already on the roster, his future likely lies outside Charlotte. While the Cavaliers have a trade exception—which can only be combined with draft picks, not players—from the Keith Bogans trade that could get the ball rolling, tangible compensation may be required.
Possible Trade: Trade exception and 2015 first-round pick (via Memphis).
Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Corey Brewer isn't going to block any shots, but he is athletic, runs the floor well and is a fantastic funny-face maker.
Oh, and he's available.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to unload Brewer for a reasonable price as they continue pressing down on that roster-reset button—which, as he wrote, helps the Cavaliers:
"Minnesota is believed to be seeking future assets in exchange for Brewer as it tries to accelerate its rebuilding effort in the wake of trading star power forward Kevin Love to the Cavaliers in August. Both Cleveland and Houston possess a trade exception large enough to absorb Brewer's $4.7 million salary, meaning that both teams would likely be able to acquire Brewer by merely surrendering future draft compensation and without giving up any key players.
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Using that exception would theoretically leave trade chips like Haywood's contract—valuable for its skyrocketing, non-guaranteed salary next year—and Waiters, affording them the flexibility to make another move.
This season has admittedly been a disaster for Brewer in terms of production and defense. But he's an active veteran who is just two years removed from limiting opposing small forwards to below-average player efficiency ratings, per 82games.com.
Shooters are hitting just 44.1 percent of their attempts against him this year as well. That's far from great, but the Cavaliers allow rival offenses to bury 48-plus percent of their shots, so he's a (slight) upgrade. Most importantly, Stein implies he'll come cheap—and cheap is something an asset-strapped Cleveland team should be very interested in.
Possible Trade: Trade exception and two 2015 second-round picks (via Boston and Sacramento).
John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
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Back to reality. Sort of.
Jason Kidd and yours truly have beef. The Milwaukee Bucks head coach doesn't know it, but we do. Why, you ask? Because John Henson both needs and deserves more playing time. Playing less than 12 minutes per night is unacceptable.
It's also indicative of Milwaukee's embarrassment of riches up front.
"Our bigs have to be a presence and our length has to be a presence on a nightly basis," Kidd said, per the Journal Sentinel's Charles F. Gardner. "No matter if it's John, if it's Larry (Sanders), if it's Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or Jabari (Parker)."
Moving Henson makes some sense at this point. Sanders—who is owed $44 million through 2017-18—isn't going anywhere. Zaza Pachulia still frequents the hardwood, and Kidd likes to run smaller lineups where he utilizes the size and length of Antetokounmpo, Parker and even Khris Middleton. That doesn't make Henson expendable, but to call him untouchable given his current role seems outlandish.
The Cavaliers can give him a bigger role. He's blocking 1.1 shots per game (3.3 per 36 minutes), and he's a rebound-gobbling monster (8.9 per 36 minutes). His rim protection is a work in progress, though. Opponents shoot 68 percent against him while within six feet of the basket and 61.8 percent at the rim.
But Henson is an investment worth making. Someone with his length, hands—he and Kawhi Leonard should have a high-fiving contest—athleticism and shot-blocking presence cannot be exploited for long.
Besides, he was better in extended action last year, when he was averaging north of 20 minutes every night. Opponents shot just 54.8 percent on him within six feet and 47.3 percent at the rim. The potential for interior dominance is there, so long as he's getting the chance that Kidd and the Bucks aren't giving him now.
Possible Trade: Lou Amundson, Dion Waiters and 2015 first-round pick (via Memphis) for Jared Dudley and John Henson.
Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
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Go with me. Just for a second.
Nothing out there suggests the Philadelphia 76ers would trade Nerlens Noel. But what if the Cavaliers offered, say, Thompson, Waiters and Memphis' top-five/bottom-15 protected 2015 first-round pick?
Philadelphia has rookie Joel Embiid waiting off to the side. Whether or not he plays this season is irrelevant. He and Noel do not complement each other. Embiid might have the offensive touch necessary to play power forward in spurts, but 7-footers with fancy post footwork and zero three-point range aren't modern-day 4s.
Noel isn't capable of playing power forward either. He's made just three shots outside nine feet all season, and he's not someone who can step out on the perimeter and guard against dribble drives and pull-ups.
Shipping him to Cleveland could net Philadelphia a starting shooting guard and power forward of the future in Waiters and Thompson, along with another first-rounder to add to its arsenal of draft picks. Thompson is set to enter restricted free agency—and shares James' agent—but he's a listed power forward who, while shooting less than 20 percent from mid-range this year, is a better complement to Embiid.
Unloading all these assets in one shot shouldn't serve as a deterrent for the Cavaliers. Landing Noel is worth it. He ostensibly moves Varejao back to the bench, bolstering the second unit, and he's already an elite rim protector.
Offensive players are hitting just 46.7 of their shots within six feet when going up against him. Opponents are also converting just 42.3 percent of their shots at the iron when he's around the basket. Freakish superstar and renowned shot-blocker Anthony Davis, by comparison, is allowing a 54.4 percent success rate.
Yes, it's a long shot. And yes, Noel is the ultimate defensive specialist. But the Cavaliers should be in the market for drastic defensive change.
And drastic defensive change takes equally drastic dreaming.
Possible Trade: Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and 2015 first-round pick (via Memphis) for Nerlens Noel.
*Stats via Basketball-Reference and NBA.com unless otherwise cited, and are accurate as of Nov. 19. Salary information and draft-pick commitments via ShamSports and RealGM.
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