NBA Trade Rumors: The Cleveland Cavaliers Need To Make A Big Move

NBA Trade Rumors: With the NBA Trade Deadline coming up, it’s time for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a big splash in order to catch up to the NBA’s elites

The Cleveland Cavaliers will not win the 2016 NBA Finals.

As currently constructed, no. If reaching the NBA Finals, however, is the goal this season, then yes. They’ll be fine. They’re going to storm through the Eastern Conference playoffs and struggle very little to get through the first three rounds of the postseason.

That won’t be the problem. But when they get to the championship round, where it matters most, that’s when the cold reality will hit LeBron James and the Cavaliers once again – if they don’t address their team beforehand.

They’re not good enough to beat the Golden State Warriors, as was reminded to us Monday night. The Warriors didn’t just beat the Cavs, they throttled them. Did their way with them.

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Golden State mocked them – if that’s how you want to see Stephen Curry‘s champagne comment as – and still beat them to a pulp.

The Warriors are that person that talks mess all day, and still backs it up. That’s a rarity in today’s NBA. Golden State, with every passing W, is gaining more and more confidence in themselves. Problem is, there’s no other team in the NBA good enough to stop them – yet.

Then, there’s the San Antonio Spurs. Even if the Warriors get upset in the Western Conference Finals, there’s still no way the Cavs are winning. LeBron James has lost to the Spurs twice in the NBA Finals already during his time with the Cavs and Heat. He’s only 5-11 all-time against the Spurs when it matters most. And this could quite possibly be the best Spurs team of all-time.

Not ideal.

So, here we are – midway through the 2015-16 NBA season and an LeBron James led team has a less than ideal chance to win the whole thing, and that’s even giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Cleveland needs to make a change, whether it’s by using its trade exception or moving Love. Something needs to change in that locker room

Luckily for them, there’s actually something they can do about it. The NBA Trade Deadline usually provides opportunity for many teams, including the Cavs. And Cleveland better take advantage of it this time around.

Last season, the Cavs added J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov – all players who helped the Cavs get to the NBA Finals. Without those players, especially with the injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, there’s probably a good chance that Cleveland doesn’t make the Finals.

Nevertheless, they did and actually held a 2-1 series lead over the Warriors in said Finals. Ultimately lost, but those moves did help, which is the bottom line. And they have that opportunity to do a similar set of moves in order to – perhaps – save their season this time around.

And let’s remember: the Cavs still have a $10.5 million trade exception they could use, thanks to Brendan Haywood, but will the utilize it?

They should. They almost have to.

Cleveland is 1-5 against the Warriors, Spurs, Bulls, and Raptors this season. A change is needed.

Though, perhaps the most interesting potential move would involve Kevin Love. No, this is not a hot take. I don’t think they SHOULD trade Love, nor do I believe that they will.

However, Love has been pretty much useless against the Warriors, especially on the defensive end. I mean, just look at this. I have no idea what he’s trying to do on this play. He just looks lost.

What is Kevin Love doing here? https://t.co/CCudD6eVoB
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) January 19, 2016

He just can’t guard the pick and roll, which is kind of a problem for a team that plans on beating Golden State four out of seven times in June.

The Cavs COULD trade Love and actually bring someone in that would help the Cavs on that end of the floor, but they probably won’t.

This is more of that same narrative that called for the Heat to trade Chris Bosh one year in. As we know now, Bosh adjusted his game and became a key factor in Miami winning two NBA Championships during their four years under LeBron James tutelage.

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Will Love do the same? Maybe. But, so far, we haven’t seen it.

Cleveland needs to make a change, whether it’s by using its trade exception or moving Love. Something needs to change in that locker room – and no, bringing in Markieff Morris isn’t going to solve their issues.

The Cavs need to make a big change at the NBA Trade Deadline, if they have any interest in winning this year’s NBA Finals.

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