Cavaliers Made Right Decision At NBA Trade Deadline
The NBA Trade Deadline has come and passed. With that, the Cleveland Cavaliers stood pat for the second straight season. They didn't make a single move. Nope, not even a minor addition to the bench that other playoff contenders made. The front office sent the message that they're confident in the team as constructed.
Those are the facts. The subjective part of this is whether or not staying quiet was the right decision for the success of the team.
Looking at how the deadline transpired around the league, players that were traded, and who Cleveland already has on their roster, the Cavaliers made the right decision not making a move.
Sep 14, 2022; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
There was pretty minimal trade buzz surrounding the Cavaliers the entire day. The only report that really swirled around was that the Cavs were monitoring the Royce O'Neale situation in Brooklyn and were willing to give up Dean Wade a couple of second-round picks to get him. Less than a half hour later, O'Neale was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
There was a feeling that if the Cavaliers were going to make any move at all it'd be for a three-and-D wing. However, Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade have emerged as legitimate all-defensive team caliber players who can knock down a corner three.
Speaking of threes, Sam Merrill has proven over the last month that his hot stretch wasn't a fluke. He's a legit three-point threat and is forcing teams to chase him when the Cavs are on offense.
Sure, another backup point guard or big man would've been a nice piece to add. But would it be worth giving up valuable assets to get them? Probably not.
The starting five is set. Okoro, Wade, and Merrill allow the Cavaliers to get creative with their lineups depending on what team they match up with. Oh yeah, that's not even to mention six-man of the year contender Caris LeVert and veteran big Georges Niang who's putting together a career year.
The Cavaliers are 20-4 in their last 24 games all while reacclimating two key members of their team. Cleveland has the talent to make a playoff run. Now, it's up to them to do just that.
