Cleveland Cavs Power Rankings: Rating Every Player Near Season's Halfway Point
The Cleveland Cavaliers are once again getting a makeover, just months after undergoing their initial roster overhaul.
Gone are Dion Waiters, Lou Amundson and Alex Kirk. Enter Iman Shumpert, Timofey Mozgov and J.R. Smith.
General manager David Griffin's recent transactions have come in response to the Cavs' less-than-glamorous 19-17 start to the season, coupled with a plethora of injuries to what was already a fairly shallow team.
Now that Cleveland has shuffled its deck yet again, where does everyone stand on the team's talent ladder? Does LeBron James still hold the top spot, or has a recent injury knocked him down a rung? With strong play from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who truly deserves to be No. 1?
New Guys and Injuries
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While Anderson Varejao (season-ending injury) and Dion Waiters (trade) are absent from this list, three new names need to be mentioned.
While it would be unfair to put them ahead of players who have contributed to the Cavaliers all season, we can make a best guess as to where they'll eventually make their player power ranking debuts.
Iman Shumpert, G/F
Cleveland needs defensive help on the perimeter, and that's precisely what Shumpert brings.
The 24-year-old wing is currently nursing a separated shoulder and will make his debut for the Cavs in two to three weeks, according to Griffin via NBA.com. In 24 games with the New York Knicks this season, Shumpert was averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
He can be effective without the ball and is converting a solid 39.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers this season, via NBA.com.
Best Guess: No. 5
J.R. Smith, SG
Smith was essentially a throw-in for the Knicks, who preferred to have cap space this summer rather than his contract.
The 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year, Smith is clearly declining now that he's approaching 30, but he can still light it up from time to time. He's averaging 10.9 points and 3.4 assists per game so far this season, albeit on just 40.2 percent shooting from the field.
His first game with the Cavaliers was a forgettable one, as he finished 0-of-5 shooting for zero points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Best Guess: No. 7
Timofey Mozgov, C
While he may not be a true rim-protector, Mozgov is still better than any other center on the Cavs' roster when it comes to blocking shots.
The 7'1", 250-pound Russian is holding opponents to 48.6 percent shooting at the rim. By comparison, Love allows a whopping 59 percent, per NBA.com.
In 35 games as a starter for the Denver Nuggets, Mozgov averaged 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 25.6 minutes.
Best Guess: No. 6
No. 10: Brendan Haywood, C
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2014-15 Stats: 1.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 5.8 minutes, 10.4 player efficiency rating
Even with the Cavaliers being thin up front, the 7'0", 268-pound Haywood can't seem to crack coach David Blatt's rotation.
When asked on Jan. 4 before a game against the Dallas Mavericks if Blatt had discussed his playing time, Haywood told Bleacher Report, "Not really. I haven't talked to him about it. I just go game by game, and if he calls my name I go out there and try to do the best I can to help the team any way possible."
While the 35-year-old may not have a lot left in the tank, he has been a solid defender when given the opportunity. Per 36 minutes of play this season, Haywood is averaging 11.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and a whopping 3.9 blocks.
Now with Mozgov on board, we may see very little of Haywood moving forward.
No. 9: Mike Miller, G/F
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2014-15 Stats: 3.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 37.7 3P%, 18.1 minutes, 6.8 PER
Although he's maintained a solid shooting percentage from deep, Miller has struggled to make an impact on the Cavaliers.
After bouncing in and out of the rotation for the first 24 contests, Miller has spent the last 12 in the starting lineup. During that time, his three-point shooting has increased to 43.9 percent, although he's attempting just 4.1 total shots per game.
With James, Love and Irving all missing time as of late, Miller hasn't been able to get his normal open looks. He's an ideal fit to play off the ball next to these stars, as we saw on Dec. 19 against the Brooklyn Nets when Miller went off for 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from deep.
It'll be interesting to see if Miller keeps his starting job once Shumpert returns to the court.
No. 8: Joe Harris, SG
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2014-15 Stats: 3.1 points, 1.0 rebounds, 39.0 3P%, 11.6 minutes, 7.1 PER
Interestingly enough, Harris is now the Cavaliers' only remaining pick from the last three NBA drafts.
A second-round selection in 2014, Harris is third on the team in three-point shooting this season. Blatt has used him in big moments, often over veterans Miller and James Jones.
While he struggled to begin the year, Harris is now shooting 46.9 percent from deep over his past 18 games. With Shumpert and Smith now on the roster, Harris may be facing a battle for playing time.
So far, he's earned it.
No.7: James Jones, G/F
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2014-15 Stats: 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 41.7 3P%, 11.1 minutes, 14.1 PER
Jones has been the Cavaliers' best three-point shooter this season, even if his sample size has been limited.
Blatt seems to be trusting Jones more as of late, however. He's seen action in seven straight games, the longest stretch of the season.
As Jones told Spencer Davies of Fox Sports Ohio earlier this year, "You can control how you play, so whatever role you get, whatever minutes, just be prepared to make the most of it."
Jones is embracing his veteran role, regardless of how much playing time he gets.
No. 6: Matthew Dellavedova, G
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2014-15 Stats: 4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 23.6 minutes, 6.2 PER
Dellavedova is a nice role player who can bring about 10-15 minutes of hustle, ball movement and defense off the bench.
Unfortunately, due to a slew of recent injuries, he's been asked to do much more.
Over the last eight games, all starts, Dellavedova has averaged 31.5 minutes per night. For someone with his skill set, that's probably a little too much.
His offense consists of knocking down open three-pointers, and that's about it. Over those eight starts, Delly is shooting 45.2 percent from downtown. On all two-pointers this year, however, he's at just 19.5 percent.
Cleveland needs to get Dellavedova back as part of the bench mob and decrease his minutes in the process.
No. 5: Shawn Marion, G/F
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2014-15 Stats: 5.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 22.8 minutes, 10.8 PER
Marion has been in and out of the starting lineup this season while taking on some of the toughest defensive assignments.
He is holding opposing small forwards to a PER of just 10.8 this season, and the Cavaliers allow 4.5 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, via 82games.com.
While he's struggled offensively (43.5 FG%, 30.0 3P%), Marion is doing a nice job defending on a Cavs team that desperately needs it.
No. 4: Tristan Thompson, C
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2014-15 Stats: 9.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 28.8 minutes, 16.2 PER
Thompson is arguably the hardest-working, and humblest, player on the Cavaliers.
He didn't utter a word when he was moved to the bench this season in favor of Love, and he has responded nicely when subbing in at center for Varejao, with 13.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in eight games.
Now, Thompson returns to the bench in favor of Mozgov. His reaction?
"I've come off the bench most of the season," Thompson told Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "Whatever it takes for us to win. [I'll] come out and join the bench mob again. Bring the energy with myself, [Matthew] Delly and all the other guys so that's a role that I embrace and I'm trying to be the X-factor."
Every team needs a player like Thompson who's willing to do whatever is necessary to win, both by his words and actions. The Cavaliers are lucky to have him.
No. 3: Kevin Love, PF
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2014-15 Stats: 17.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 35.9 minutes, 18.9 PER
Love is the Cavaliers' leading rebounder this season, and his development alongside James has been encouraging as well, notes Zach Harper of CBS Sports:
"Love has the third best net rating on the Cavs this season, with his team 2.7 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. But nearly all of that success comes with LeBron James out there with him. With James on the court with Love, the Cavs are a plus-4.6 points per 100 possessions this season. Without James on the court and Love out there, the Cavs are a minus-3.6 points per 100. Love shoots better (plus 2.4 percent from the field and 3.7 percent from 3-point range) with James out of the game and his scoring per 36 minutes goes up 3.5 points.
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Even though Love's efficiency is enhanced when playing with James, he's been doing just fine without his MVP teammate as well.
In his last four games without James, Love has put up 25.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 47.9 percent shooting from the field.
An increase in usage and a fresh shave have Love off to a great start in 2015.
No. 2: Kyrie Irving, PG
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2014-15 Stats: 21.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 37.9 minutes, 19.6 PER
Although the numbers are solid, Irving is still struggling to find his role with fellow stars around him.
He has games where he completely takes over the scoring load, and in others, he disappears. Make no mistake—in terms of pure talent, Irving is still one of the best guards in the league.
Against a Houston Rockets team allowing just 97.3 points per game, Irving went off for a season-high 38 on 15-of-26 shooting on Jan. 7.
Still just 22, he continues to learn the right time to score and distribute. He's been good so far and has the potential to be consistently great.
No. 1: LeBron James, SF
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2014-15 Stats: 25.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 37.4 minutes, 25.0 PER
Although he hasn't played since turning 30 on Dec. 30, James unsurprisingly remains the best player this season for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland is scoring 7.8 more points per 100 possessions with James in the game and giving up 4.1 more when he rests, via 82games.com. His assist average is the second-highest of his 12-year career.
James is currently undergoing a two-week rest period to treat a strained knee and back. According to Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick, it's been much needed:
"I haven't felt great all year," James said. "I've had spurts where one or two games I felt good, and after that, I was just pushing through it, just being the competitive guy I am and wanting to be out there for my teammates. I feel better right now than I [have] for the majority of the season.
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Cleveland has understandably struggled without its leader, going 1-6 without James. With him, the team is a respectable 18-11.
The good news is that James plans to travel with the Cavs on their upcoming road trip, with a targeted return date of Jan. 15 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
From everyone in Northeast Ohio: Godspeed, LeBron.
All stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. All quotes obtained firsthand unless cited.
Greg Swartz has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for Bleacher Report since 2010.
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