The Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing three players to bolster their lineup before the February 8 trade deadline, according to multiple media reports. According to Marc Stein the New York Times, the Cavaliers are eyeing Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and guard Lou Williams. Stein said the Cavaliers have included center Tristan Thompson and shooting guard JR Smith in several trade offers to the Clippers.
However, David Aldridge of NBA.com said the Clippers want the Cavaliers to hand them the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected 2018 first-round pick for Williams.
In addition, Aldridge said trade talks for Williams might stall as the Clippers and the shooting guard are currently negotiating a contract extension. Williams is in the last year of his contract and is scheduled to become a free agent in July. As for Jordan, Sam Amick of USA Today said the Cavaliers’ pursuit of the center will not be completed in the near future as the Clippers also want the Nets’ pick for the veteran big man.
Williams could provide spark for Cavs
The 31-year-old Williams could provide an additional spark to the Cavaliers’ offense with his scoring. In his first 43 games with the Clippers, Williams is averaging 23.2 points while making 45 percent of his shots from the floor and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Jordan, for his part, will provide the interior defense that the Cavaliers badly want. The Cavaliers believe that Jordan is the final piece they need to be able to dethrone the Golden State Warriors.
Cavaliers also interested in George Hill
Stein also reported that the Cavaliers are looking to acquire Sacramento Kings veteran point guard George Hill before the deadline to stabilize their shaky backcourt.
Shams Charania of The Vertical first reported about Cleveland’s interest in the 31-year-old Hill, who is struggling to find his niche with the young Kings squad.
After playing one year with the Utah Jazz, Hill signed a three-year, $57-million deal with the Kings. However, Hill failed to duplicate in Sacramento his previous success with the Jazz.
Last season, Hill averaged 17 points and 4.0 assists per game for the Jazz, while he’s averaging 10.5 points per outing for the Kings. The Cavaliers might ship Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye to the Kings for Hill, who could also serve as a dependable backcourt defender for Cleveland. Hill could also become an outside threat for the Cavaliers as he is shooting 45.0 percent from beyond the arc this season.
