There were a few questions about the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers after losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the second time in the last three years. The Cavs needed to address its perceived bench weakness, and the rumors surrounding LeBron James willingness to stay.

Cavs salvage disastrous offseason and came out ahead

From former Cavs GM David Griffin stepping down to Kyrie Irving's trade demand, to the rumors suggesting that LeBron James is leaving the team next season, the Cavaliers seemingly started the Free Agency season on the wrong foot.

The team, seemingly in disarray, was facing a long offseason and the majority of the work it seems will center on repairing the Cavs relationships with Irving and James. Then the Cavaliers will have to acquire quality players, which is easier said than done with the team apparently dead on water and the situation deemed unstable.

But in one brilliant move, the Cavaliers pulled off one of the best trades in franchise history. The Cavaliers sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets first-round draft pick. The trade deal seemingly solved the aforementioned issues that the team needed to address.

How Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, and the Nets draft pick solves the Cavs problems

In acquiring Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, and the Nets draft pick, Cleveland traded away an All-Star point guard in exchange for key pieces that should fill the team's needs. Thomas' and Irving’s 2016-2017 stats are almost identical so there will be no perceived drop off in point guard production.

Crowder has shown that he can defend multiple positions and hit open shots. The small forward should be a key piece for the Cavaliers if they meet the Dubs in the 2018 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the second-year Croatian big man Zizic has the potential to be a solid backup for Kevin Love or Tristan Thompson.

But the crown jewel in this trade really was the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick. The Nets' draft pick is projected to land in the top 5 and the Cavs could use it to acquire a potential franchise player. And because of the Brooklyn draft pick, the Cavs now have a backup plan that doesn't hinge on whether James will stay or not.

Cleveland strengthens its bench

The Cavs also acquired Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon in the offseason. Rose and Calderon would probably serve as Thomas’ backup. Crowder, on the other hand, would give the Cavs versatility in the wings.

The Cavs can play a big with Love, Thompson, and Crowder at the forward spots, and with James and J.R. Smith/Kyle Korver at the guard slots.

The Cavs can also go small with Love, James, and Crowder/Smith at forward, and Thomas and Rose at guard.

The arrival of the former Celtics gives the Cavs a number of options with regards to the player rotation. They also reinforce the Cavaliers relatively shallow bench. Not bad for a team that started the offseason on a bad note.
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