The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a really good season so far, but are they good enough to beat the Golden State Warriors? It’s ideal to dominate the Eastern Conference, but the Cavaliers currently stand third with a 24-11 record. For a championship caliber team, they have room for improvement.
The Cavaliers own the second worst defensive rating this season, only ahead of the Sacramento Kings, a team they lost to Wednesday night. Their defensive issues have been quite evident as they don’t have a rim protector.
Tristan Thompson has missed most of the season with a calf injury and has been significantly ineffective when healthy, anyway.
Kevin Love has been forced to play the center position for most of the season, and he is merely a defensive liability. The Cavaliers need a shot blocker and potent rebounder, to allow Love to shift down to the four position and help Cleveland improve its defense.
The Cavaliers need Clippers big man
For these reasons, the Cavs must make a trade for Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan sooner rather than later. They’ve had interest in Jordan but have been reluctant to give up Brooklyn’s highly valuable 2018 first-round pick.
Cleveland needs to, nonetheless, pull the trigger to land Jordan, who will instantly fix their weaknesses. The clock is ticking for the Cavaliers, as LeBron James may possibly leave them in the summer.
They need to win now. They need to compete with the Warriors. Their current roster consists of tremendous depth and talent, but their defense and rebounding is going to be a major problem during the post-season.
Jordan’s averages and strengths
Jordan currently leads the league in rebounding at 15.2 per game. His shot blocking has dropped this season, but he is still able to alter many shots around the rim with his athleticism and length.
The 29-year-old center is also shooting over 65 percent from the field.
He would definitely put the Cavaliers over the top, helping them compete against the Warriors much better. Jordan is a lengthier, more athletic version of Thompson, who provides better rebounding and defense. The Cavaliers have terrific spacing with Love at the five, but there is no point if they are giving up easy buckets on the other end.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, February 8 at 3 pm Eastern Time, but the Cavaliers must act fast in their pursuit of Jordan to quickly build team chemistry now that Isaiah Thomas is also set to return soon.
The Clippers could be headed for a rebuilding process, so the Cavaliers must jump on the opportunity to acquire a center that will perfectly fit the team.
