Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks, they still improved a ton this season! With that being said there are still some things Cleveland has to do to make them a contender. Cleveland’s young core is very solid with Mitchell, Mobley, and Garland. The Cavs still need a few pieces though. For starters, there is a hole in their starting lineup. That hole is a true small forward.
What Does Cleveland Need?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have tried many different players to fill the slot, but none of them have truly worked. The closest they have gotten was starting Isaac Okoro. Okoro plays the best defense on the team, but he is a liability on offense. His inability to hit consistently from three has hurt the Cavaliers many times. Finding a starting small forward could really open the playbook for the Cavs. It would also improve Cleveland’s depth.
The Eastern Conference is wide open right now. The Cleveland Cavaliers have a great opportunity to rise to the top with the right moves this offseason. The First move according to KingJamesGospel.com is to trade for depth and shooting. The Washington Wizards are looking at a full reset. The Cavaliers need to take advantage of that and swing some deals for choice players.
Jarrett Allen’s name has been rumored to be on the trading block after a rough first round in the playoffs. This would be a nightmare for Cleveland as it would leave a huge hole in their stellar defense. Luckily Kobe Altman has shown no interest in trading Allen. Some players that could be moved are Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, and Dean Wade.
Shooting And Depth
Building off a trade proposal from Bleacher Report, Cleveland could end up with Washington’s sharpshooter Corey Kispert and Daniel Gafford. The Cavs would send Issac Okoro and Dean Wade with a few draft picks for the two Wizards. Both players have earned their titles as some of the league’s best role players. They can score on multiple levels with Kispert shooting 42.4% from three.
Kispert stands at six foot six inches. This means he has the height to guard other guards effectively. With backup from Cleveland’s frontcourt, Kispert could fill the defensive hole left by trading away Okoro. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a pretty good spot to get the players they want. They have an abundance of young players waiting for a chance to shine. It will be very interesting to see what Cleveland will do to improve this offseason.
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