3 Last-Minute Trade-Deadline Targets for Cleveland Cavaliers
While the Cleveland Cavaliers have already executed two big trades this year, they may not be done as the 2015 deadline looms.
Following separate deals that sent Dion Waiters to theOklahoma City Thunder while netting J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from the New York Knicks, then Timofey Mozgov Denver Nuggets, Cleveland still has some needs to fill.
The Cavaliers are still in the market for a backup center. While Mozgov has been great, the Cavs have little size behind him. The 6'9" Tristan Thompson possesses the skill set of a center, but is slightly undersized at the position. Brendan Haywood has the bulk at 7'0" and 263 pounds, but clearly isn't trusted by head coach David Blatt. Haywood has appeared in just 91 minutes all season, despite remaining healthy.
Backup point guard is also a concern, with only 24-year-old Matthew Dellavedova behind Kyrie Irving. General manager David Griffin admitted earlier this year he made a mistake by not having another point guard on the roster who knew the offense when Dellavedova missed 15 games with a sprained MCL.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, they're running dangerously low on trade assets. Quality floor generals and big men aren't easy to come by, either.
Look for the Cavaliers to still make a push, however, with these three names topping their wish list.
Jameer Nelson, PG, Denver Nuggets
Stats: 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, .366/.339/.708, 10.3 PER
Nelson has been flipped more times than a pancake at this point. In the last calender year, the 11-year veteran has suited up for four different franchises, including three this season alone.
This hasn't curbed the Cavs' interest in him, however. ESPN's Brian Windhorst notes that Cleveland has indeed targeted Nelson.
So what could the 33-year-old offer? For one, experience. Nelson reached the playoffs six times with the Orlando Magic, starting 39 of his 44 career postseason games. He helped take the Magic to the 2009 championship, upending the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Irving has been severely hurt by the lack of a veteran point guard behind him, and the numbers show it. He's played a league-high 1,961 minutes so far this season, with his 37.7 a night ranking second only behind the Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler. This is after Irving spent the summer playing for the U.S. team at the FIBA World Cup. Adding a proven vet like Nelson would help reduce Irving's workload and preserve him for a long playoff run.
While he's not a particularly good defender, Nelson is, and always has been, a willing distributor. The Nuggets' team assist percentage jumps 7.2 percent with Nelson in the game, via Basketball-Reference.com.
Ramon Sessions, PG, Sacramento Kings
Stats: 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, .344/.214/.727, 8.2 PER
Not even new head coach George Karl can save the Kings this season.
At 18-34, Sacramento is 10 games out of the final playoff seed in the Western Conference and could realistically have any and all players available via trade.
Sessions, 28, hasn't seemed to fit in all season. He's putting up career-worst averages in points, assists, field-goal percentage and player efficiency.
A change of scenery to a playoff-bound Cavaliers team would be a blessing for him. With Darren Collison missing some games lately for the Kings, Sessions has been asked to "run the team" with little success. In Cleveland, Sessions would just be needed to help move the ball on the second unit while making the most of limited minutes. A simplified role should equal a boost in his efficiency.
Of course, Cavs fans have witnessed what Sessions can do first-hand before. He enjoyed arguably the best stretch of his career while in Cleveland from 2010 to 2012, averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 assists in 122 games. Although not a skilled outside shooter, Sessions excels at getting to the basket and creating scoring opportunities for himself and others.
His play-making ability would especially come in handy on a reserve unit that occasionally features the likes of James Jones, Mike Miller and Joe Harris, all talented outside shooters who need the ball delivered to them.
Sessions' first go-round in Cleveland was a success. How about an encore?
Ian Mahinmi, C, Indiana Pacers
Stats: 4.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, .589/N/A/.360, 12.4 PER
The availability of the Pacers backup center will likely come down to the health of Paul George. If Indiana believes that George can return from a leg injury suffered in the summer, they could still make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. If not, role players like Mahinmi should become available.
The 6'11", 250-pound Mahinmi is a seven-year veteran and former first-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs. He's a constant threat to block and alter shots, and would become a great backup behind Mozgov.
On offense, simplicity is key. Nearly 63 percent of Mahinmi's shots come from within three feet of the basket, where he's an ultra-efficient 74.0 percent. Just 12 percent of his attempts come from 10 feet out or further.
The Cavaliers don't need him to score, of course. Simply adding another big body to help defend the paint is what's important.
Mahinmi has been near dominant on defense this season. The Pacers allow 3.7 fewer points per 100 possessions with him in the game. He's also limiting opponents to 47.5 percent shooting from within six feet of the basket, a drop of 11.3 percent off their season average, per NBA.com.
Given his willingness to come off the bench and help protect the basket, Mahinmi would make for a perfect trade target for the Cavaliers.
Greg Swartz has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for Bleacher Report since 2010.
All stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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