The Cleveland Cavaliers lost the NBA Finals again and they have to look to reload this summer. Here are five offseason targets to help them get there.
It’s very simple and complicated at the same time for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s all about focusing one on team: the Golden State Warriors. They shouldn’t have to worry about the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers or even the Boston Celtics and their truck load of first-round picks.
The Cavaliers have LeBron James, the math problem that can’t be solved by any team in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors added Kevin Durant and are able to nullify the effectiveness of James. The King averaged a triple-double in the NBA Finals and the Warriors still won comfortably in five games.
So here’s why it’s simple and complicated: the Cavaliers only have to focus in on beating one opponent, but it’s going to be very difficult to construct a roster to defeat that team. Golden State was unbeatable down the stretch of the season and they’re only going to develop more chemistry with a year under their belts. The Cavaliers looked old, tired and unathletic in their bench.
The Cavaliers are so far past the luxury tax line, they can’t even see it. Cleveland is tied up with a bunch of contracts, but they’ll need to get younger, more athletic and find two-way wings that can hang with Golden State. They’ll cruise through the East and LeBron James — and James Jones — will be in their eighth-straight NBA Finals.
If LeBron’s a simple math problem to the other teams in the East, the Warriors are a college-level calculus problem to the Cavaliers. Let’s take a look at five offseason targets that can help the Cavaliers take down the Warriors in an inevitable Round IV of Dubs-Cavs.
5. Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
The Cavaliers are looking to get more perimeter defenders in order to slow down the firepower that Golden State presents. Their lack of one-on-one defensive stars was one of the reasons why they couldn’t slow down the Warriors’ juggernaut.
Especially looking at their role players off the bench, Iman Shumpert might be the only one bringing some defensive pressure. Kyle Korver and Deron Williams were offensive playmakers, but were often targeted on the other end of the court.
Tony Allen could come in and be a defensive force off the bench for the defending Eastern Conference Champions. At 35, Allen isn’t the same defender that he used to be, but he still made the NBA’s second-team All Defense for a reason.
He would be a veteran looking to chase an NBA Title after not being in that position previously in his career. Since the Cleveland Cavaliers are so hamstrung by the cap, Allen might not mind signing for the veteran minimum in order to compete for a ring.
The Grizzlies’ defensive star doesn’t bring much on offense though. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving need space to operate on the floor and Allen won’t provide that as defenses will sag off of him. This past season was one his worst 3-point shooting years, only making 27.8 percent of them, while attempting less than one per game.
Cleveland likes to get stops, get the ball in transition and hit 3-pointers, but Allen doesn’t seem to quite fit that mold. But with salary cap issues and lack of free-agent options, the Cavs and their un-named GM can’t be picky. Allen could be a cheap, defensive option in a Finals’ matchup with Golden State, so might as well add him.