Help Wanted: Ten Players the Cavaliers Should Pursue

Yes, Dwight Howard would improve the Cavs. However, he might not be the most realistic option right now.

Cleveland doesn't appear to be cleaning house this offseason and the additions of Joey Graham and Ryan Hollins just aren't going to cut it for fans who have come to expect greatness from the franchise. 

These next ten players aren't necessarily a Dream Team, but all are talented pieces that could potentially be moved by their current teams.  And all would look good in the wine and gold.

Tony Parker

OK so this is a bit of wishful thinking. Why would San Antonio let their former finals MVP go? A couple reasons.

Parker wasn't himself last year as he suffered through injuries and found himself coming off the bench at times while trying to work his way back to the court.  During this time George Hill played extremely well in his place as a starter and looks like he could be a future All-Star.  Parker will also be a free agent in the offseason and has been rumored to join Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks.

With the fear of Parker walking, San Antonio could potentially trade the Frenchman and the Cavaliers should be interested.  Seeing Eva Longoria sit courtside every game wouldn't hurt either.

Luol Deng

Rumored at one time to come to the Cavs in a sign-and-trade for LeBron, Deng possesses a variety of skills and plays small forward, the Cavs' most glaring hole. He can drive, dish, play defense and is a very athletic player when healthy.

His contract however could be a problem as he is owed  $51 million over the next four years. Injuries have plagued him and Chicago may not even want to give him up in hopes of making a title run with newly signed Carlos Boozer.

However If the Bulls choose a youth movement and decide to start Taj Gibson at small forward, Deng may become available

Jeff Green

The Oklahoma City forward is another athletic scoring option that may face overcrowding in a young and ever improving Thunder squad. 

Durant has already signed his extension, and smart money is on Russell Westbrook to be the next to sign. James Harden is another player the Thunder will have to make a decision on, as well as adding more of a low post presence.

Green, although being young and athletic, could find that small market Oklahoma City may not have the means to resign him, and will be forced to trade the former fifth overall pick.

Hasheem Thabeet

The 2009 second overall pick struggled in his rookie year with the Grizzlies, bouncing from NBA to D League. 

While he may never be an offensive force, he is an intimidating presence at 7'3'' and can block shots with the best of 'em (1.3 in 13 minutes a game).  The Cavs could use his interior defense to make up for the loss of Shaq and Z this offseason. 

Memphis already has a very good center in Marc Gasol so Thabeet may have to wait awhile to start for the Grizz.  A fresh start may be just what he needs.

Jose Calderon

It's clear that the Raptors don't know what the hell they're doing and quite possibly anybody and everybody on the team could be on the trading block. 

They achieved the impossible by moving Hedo Turkoglu and his dead weight contract to the Suns in exchange for Leandro Barbosa who gives them three point guards when you add in Jarrett Jack (He's kind of a point guard, right?).

 Something tells me one of them will be moved before the season starts and that usually means the first to arrive is the first to go. 

Calderon when healthy is an excellent floor general and with Mo Williams would form the best free throw shooting backcourt in all of basketball.  With three years and $30 million left on his deal, Toronto may be ready to ship this dino south.

Corey Maggette

The Milwaukee Bucks left even the casual fan scratching they're head when they gave John Salmons $40 million.

Then they topped even themselves with a cool $32 mil for Drew Gooden, so well liked that he's played for what will be his ninth team in nine years.  If Michael Redd has anything left in those knees, Maggette could be the odd man out and become expendable. 

Enter Cleveland who just so happens to need a small forward scorer.  Maggette may not be the most complete NBA player, but he can put the ball in the hoop as his 19.8 points on 51.6 percent shooting illustrate.

Caron Butler

In his few months with Dallas, Butler's minutes, scoring, and rebounds all took a hit from his days in Washington. 

With the Cavs, Butler would be reunited with buddy Antawn Jamison and immediately start at the three without ever having to play out of position at shooting guard, where he found himself parts of last year.

In the last year of his contract, his future with Dallas remains uncertain. The Mavericks have Shawn Marion wrapped up for the next four years and will want to get Rodrigue Beaubois more minutes at guard. 

The Mavs will also look to play DeShawn Stevenson big minutes so that he can hypnotize opposing players into staring at his Abe Lincoln neck tattoo.

Danny Granger

Excuse me, I just had to wipe the drool from my keyboard.

Granger is the most underrated superstar that the NBA has. Period. 

He is a scoring machine who can drop 'em from anywhere on the floor.  Because he plays for the Pacers he often gets overlooked when mentioning the game's best players. 

His availability is a question mark, so hopefully Larry Bird decides to spite LeBron for doing the unthinkable of teaming with other stars and ships Danny G to Cleveland for Jamario Moon and a second round pick.

I can dream, can't I?

Andre Iguodala

This is my pick for the most attainable star for the Cavaliers.  In 2004 he was one draft pick away from being a Cav, going to Philly ninth overall.  Remember who Cleveland got?  Al Jefferson?  Josh Smith?  How about Jameer Nelson?

Try Luke Jackson.  The former Oregon Duck played in 46 games for the Cavs and averaged 2.8 points while Iggy has missed six games in six years while giving the 76ers 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists a game.

Why then, would they want to get rid of him?  Another classic case of overcrowding. 

To fill the shooting guard/small forward spot Iguodala plays, Philadelphia already has second overall pick Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Willie Green, Lou Williams, Andres Nocioni, Jodie Meeks, and Rodney Carney. 

New coach Doug Collins will no doubt want to play "his guy" Turner big minutes which could leave Iggy feelin' a little less jiggy (what's up Will Smith?) and could materialize into a very nice pickup for the Cavs. 

A warning to Chris Grant, December 2nd is closer than it appears.