All signs point to superstar power forward Kevin Love joining forces in Cleveland with Kyrie Irving, who just signed a huge extension, and the NBA’s best player and four-time MVP LeBron James.
That’s some big three.
Along with Anderson Varejao as a rim protector and hustle player at the center position and shooting guard Dion Waiters to spread the floor, the starting lineup is presumably set. They have perimeter shot-making, ball penetration, rim protection and defense in that squad and would be formidable for a handful of years.
The question is that second unit.
In that trade that nets them Love, Cleveland is reportedly giving up Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett (the last two number one overall draft picks) and a future first-rounder. Wiggins seems to be a franchise-changing player on both ends of the court with elite athleticism. Bennett had an abysmal season last year, but looks to have changed some things and turned it around.
But they’re gone.
Probably the best player remaining on that second unit would be Tristan Thompson. He is a decent power forward, but doesn’t seem to be anything special. Brendan Haywood is the backup center. He is a big body and can do what you need him to, you just can’t ask much. Matthew Dellavedova is apparently slotted as the backup point guard (despite being listed as a SG). He only averaged 4.7 points and 2.6 assists in 17.7 minutes per game in 72 appearances last year. Nothing special.
The only other notable players are basically an extension of Lebron’s entourage at this point. 34-year-old Mike Miller and 33-year-old James Jones are only ever on the court to hopefully not be a sieve on defense and knock down open threes when their name is called at this point in their careers. They are currently the only players brought from South Beach and James’s last four years with Miami where they won back-to-back championships together.
Two other veteran names could be added to the roster to bolster it for an immediate playoff run in 2015. The NBA’s best three-point shooter in Ray Allen has been reported to possibly sign with Cleveland (he was in Miami for the Heat’s second championship) as has Shawn Marion, who won a championship with Dallas in 2011.
Let’s just predict a bench squad for Cleveland to compare to other second units to see how it could play out.
PG: Matthew Dellavedova
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Mike Miller
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Brendan Haywood
Let’s just say that is what they will go with as their bench unit for argument’s sake.
Let’s use the eye test.
How would that squad fare against the formidable Spurs bench that led the league last season with more than 44 points per game?
PG: Matthew Dellavedova vs Cory Joseph
SG: Ray Allen vs Manu Ginobili
SF: Mike Miller vs Austin Daye
PF: Tristan Thompson vs Matt Bonner
C: Brendan Haywood vs Boris Diaw
In this scenario, Joseph would out-muscle Dellavedova who is more of an off-ball, catch-and-shoot player anyway, Ray Allen would never be able to keep Ginobili in front of him even though they are both ancient by NBA standards. Miller would potentially outrebound Daye, but Daye is significantly younger and definitely more agile due to Miller’s chronic back issues and age. Finally Diaw, who played a big part in the Spurs Finals victory over the Heat, would completely outsmart and outplay Haywood.
Even if LeBron, Love, Kyrie and Co. can gain a lead in a game or series against San Antonio, it would probably be lost during anytime the reserves check into the game.
The same goes for the Phoenix Suns, who had the NBA’s third-best bench, averaging 39.0 points per game in 2013-14.
PG: Matthew Dellavedova vs Isaiah Thomas
SG: Ray Allen vs Gerald Green/Archie Goodwin
SF: Mike Miller vs T.J. Warren
PF: Tristan Thompson vs Marcus Morris
C: Brendan Haywood vs Alex Len
This wouldn’t even be difficult to see getting out of hand, forcing to get LeBron off the bench in a hurry. Thomas is a starting caliber point guard, who incidentally had nearly the same stats as superstar Irving last year and will be playing against sophomore Matthew Dellavedova. Not even close.
Gerald Green would completely out jump Allen all over the place as would Goodwin. Warren will easily score at will against Miller, who won’t be able to stop most anything Warren throws at him. Marcus Morris will pull Thompson away from the basket with his three-point shooting, which he isn’t used to. Len will destroy Haywood on every play.
The Cleveland Cavaliers got lucky in the draft lottery and are now cashing in on that and the fact that LeBron has unfinished business in Ohio to bring the ultra-talented Kevin Love to Cleveland. LeBron, Love and Kyrie are all great players, but sometimes it takes a bit before a “big three” can win a ring. They might need to get a few more quality (and “in their prime” instead of “near the end”) role players to help the team earn what every NBA player craves…a championship.