The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA thus far this season. Despite missing key players at different points in the season and one in Collin Sexton that will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, they have kept on track.
Cleveland is currently riding a six-game winning streak, which has pushed their record to 19-12 on the season. They are holding down the third spot in the Eastern Conference and look like a team that will be in this for the long haul.
The Cavaliers have found success this season on the back of one of the strongest defenses in the NBA. They are third in the NBA in defensive rating according to Basketball-Reference.
Being in the thick of the playoff race, the Cavaliers could look to make some moves in the coming weeks leading up to the NBA trade deadline on February 10th.
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On a recent episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Michael Scotto revealed three names to keep an eye on when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers and what they could consider offering.
“They also have a first-round pick that they may be more willing to give up because it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a high lottery pick the way that many people predicted coming into this year. They may be willing to part with that with some protections and something along those lines. Caris LeVert is a name to watch there. I think if the Brooklyn Nets decide that they want to make some changes, Joe Harris is somebody the Cavaliers would be very interested in. Terrence Ross of the Orlando Magic fits the bill as well.”
Cleveland could certainly use a little more offensive punch, especially with Sexton being sidelined for the remainder of the season. They are currently 15th in offensive rating, according to Basketball-Reference.
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All three players mentioned would provide the Cavaliers with a boost on that end of the court. Caris LeVert has struggled with his shot this season but would provide the team with another big guard, something they do not currently have.
Joe Harris is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. Cleveland is ranked 9th currently in 3-point shooting percentage, but they are middle of the pack when it comes to volume, ranking 12th in total makes and 19th in attempts. Adding a true sniper to the mix would open things up even more for J.B. Bickerstaff’s team.
Terrence Ross is the likeliest of those three to be made available and on the move. The Magic are in a clear rebuild and he no longer fits their timeline. He has become one of the most explosive sixth men in the NBA, bolstering a Cleveland bench that has Kevin Love providing production in the frontcourt and Cedi Osman on the wing.
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This was not a position many people thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would be in this season, as their timeline has moved up quickly. Being open to moving their first-round pick makes sense as they already have a great core in place and need to begin upgrading around it to take the team to the next level.
