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5 big problems facing LeBron James and the Cavs

By Bryce Olin

Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) pose for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) pose for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) reacts in overtime against the Charlotte Bobcats at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) reacts in overtime against the Charlotte Bobcats at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Aging veterans

So much for all the speculation about James playing with Wiggins, Bennett, and all the other Cavs’ young talent. I mean, of course, Irving, Waiters, and Thompson are still around, but it’s definitely not ‘LeBron and the Young’uns’ like it was originally pitched in James’ phony essay.

This Cavs team isn’t as old as the Miami Heat last season, but the roster still has six bench/rotation players over the age of 31 years old, Shawn Marion (36), Mike Miller (34), Brendan Haywood (34), James Jones (33), Anderson Varejao (32), and Lou Amundson (31). Outside of James, Irving, Love, and Waiters, that is the team, a bunch of veterans who’ve had marginal success in the league.

Marion and Miller are the best of the bunch, but are nowhere near as good as they’ve been in the past. Miller couldn’t walk in the NBA Finals two years ago, but had a good season in Memphis last season and averaged 7.1 PPG in 21 minutes per game.

Marion played well for the Mavs and averaged 10.4 PPG and 6.5 rebounds per game last season. At this point of his career, Marion can hit a corner three when needed and is still a good defender, rebounder, and slasher, but he’s a shell of the player that earned the nickname “The Matrix” as a great young player.

The Cavs will be extremely lucky if Haywood and Varejao last the season at center. Between 2010-13, Varejao only played in 81 games because of injuries. He did play 65 games last season, so in four seasons, he’s played 146 of a possible 312. That’s the Cavs starting center.

Don’t even get me started on Haywood.  He’s been relatively healthy since the 2009-10 season, but he’s just bad. In 19 minutes per game last season, Haywood averaged 3.5 points and 4.8 rebounds with the Charlotte Bob-hor-cat-nets. I guess he’s the best Cleveland could get.

And, if they can’t make through the season, the Cavs have the 6-9 Amundson to lock down the paint.

Relying on veterans can be good, but it can also can come back to bite you. The Cavs are taking a risk by not protecting their long-term viability, but I can’t blame them for trying to put together a championship contender on the fly. It just might come back to bite them when Marion, Miller, and Varejao are in suits on the bench during the playoffs.

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