**NOTE: The news clips and articles listed don’t necessarily reflect the views
or beliefs of the Cleveland Cavaliers or their Basketball Operations staff,
partners, or sponsors.**
Assessing the Cavaliers’ biggest needs, and how they could fill them in the
draft Author: Chris Manning Publication: Fear the Sword
The Cavs were bad last season — there’s no way around it. As such, they have
needs. A lot of needs, in fact, and there’s probably not a skill set or position
group they should rule out drafting.
Still, some should take preference over others. Here are three skills the Cavs
should prioritize in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Perimeter defense
By any metric, the Cavaliers were a disaster on defense in 2018-19. They had the
worst overall defensive rating, the worst half court defense and gave up the
second-worst overall three-point percentage. And when you look at the Cavs
roster, you have to squint to find good defenders. Tristan Thompson is when he’s
healthy. Larry Nance Jr. is, if a bit foul prone. David Nwaba is and, assuming
he’s back next year, is easily the Cavs’ best option on the wing. Cedi Osman
might be, although the numbers indicate he was one of the worst defensive small
forwards in the league last years. Matthew Dellavedova was, but injuries from
the past few season might limit him at this point in his career. – CLICK HERE to
read full story.
Leroux: So what’s the deal with a potential JR Smith move? Author: Danny Leroux
Publication: The Athletic
When negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2016, the players and
owners agreed to an interesting and notable change that reduced roster
flexibility around the league. Previously, general managers had the ability to
wield non-guaranteed and lightly guaranteed contracts in transactions because
they counted at their full amount for trade purposes but then a new team could
effectively wipe that contract off their books by only paying the player the
much smaller guaranteed amount.
A prominent example of how this could work was when the Mavericks shipped Erick
Dampier’s massive but non-guaranteed final season to the then-Bobcats in a deal
that netted them Tyson Chandler, who then became a key piece of their 2011
championship team. The league’s transaction structure at the time thus made it
significantly easier for teams to offload and take on bad salary, which was
either a good or bad thing depending on perspective.
The sides tightened those rules considerably when negotiating the current CBA in
a fascinating way: counting traded salary differently for the teams sending out
and receiving these contracts. It is best to use an example: under the contract
he signed with the Kings in 2017, George Hill will either make $18 million in
the final year of his deal or get a $1 million partial guarantee. Under the old
rules, he would have counted at the full $18 million for both the Bucks and any
trade partners but that new team could have waived him and only paid $1 million.
Now, Hill counts for $1 million of outgoing salary for the Bucks and $18 million
for the new team. It is technically possible to make trades happen for some of
these players, typically using cap space or a trade exception, but the math is
significantly more challenging now than it was before. This has massive effects
for the 2019 offseason, as players like Hill, Shaun Livingston and Avery Bradley
could have facilitated their current teams adding talent, other teams shedding
obligations or both, like what happened in the Chandler/Dampier deal. Instead,
many of them are more likely to be cut or waived, possibly using the stretch
provision, if their current teams feel they are not worth the full value of
their 2019-20 contracts. – CLICK HERE to read full story.
The Cavaliers should be interested in Lonzo Ball if Lakers make him available
Author: James Rapien Publication: 92.3 The Fan
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The NBA Finals are in full swing, which means the draft and
free agency are just a few weeks away. Rumors continue to swirl about Kyrie
Irving, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler and other players set to test free agency on
July 1.
Anthony Davis is another star that’s expected to be on the move this summer. The
Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the many suitors for Davis, who requested a
trade. Some believe former Cavaliers general manager David Griffin likes the
Lakers’ young talent. Others think Los Angeles will attempt to trade point guard
Lonzo Ball for an extra lottery pick to sweeten the pot for New Orleans.
If Griffin wants another premium pick in a Davis deal and the Lakers are willing
to part with Ball, then the Cavaliers should help the man who helped bring a
championship to Cleveland.
The Cavs should absolutely be interested in moving the No. 5 pick for Ball.
Griffin would be crazy not to want the former second overall pick, who would be
a perfect fit with Zion Williamson, but some believe he’d prefer another lottery
pick instead of Ball. – CLICK HERE to read full story.
Amico: Cavaliers aggressive in trying to land more draft picks Author: Sam Amico
Publication: Amico Hoops
For the Cavaliers, two first-round draft picks may not be nearly enough.
General manager Koby Altman may go for three. Or maybe stick with two and add an
early second-rounder. Or maybe even more second-rounders.
According to several opposing GMs, Altman and the Cavs have made it clear —
they intend to secure more young talent this offseason. The best way to do that
is through the draft. Today, they own the Nos. 5 and 26 overall selections, and
that’s it. The draft is June 20.
So how do you get more picks? Well, by offering a little something in return.
For instance, if you’re Altman, you may tell an opposing GM that you will give
him exiled shooting guard J.R. Smith and take back a “bad” contract in return —
provided their is a pick involved. – CLICK HERE to read full story.
Media Content: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/press/daily-news-june-7-2019
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Media Thumbnail:
https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/sites/cavaliers/files/190607-dn-758.jpg
Taxonomy: Daily Press Links
Story Link: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/press/daily-news-june-7-2019
