Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: 3 Big Questions for Remainder of Season
Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: 3 Big Questions for Remainder of Season
As the Cleveland Cavaliers approach the All-Star break, now is a good time to ponder some big questions the team will have to answer down the stretch of the season.
Cleveland holds a 38-22 record, placing them just one game behind third place in the Eastern Conference. Whether or not they catch the Philadelphia 76ers or make a deep run in the playoffs, the Cavs' future will largely be determined by these three factors.
Click here for $5000 worth of sports betting bonuses to use on the Cleveland Cavs using our free bets page!
How much can Danny Green provide?
Koby Altman stuck to his guns during the NBA trade deadline, avoiding shaking things up by keeping the roster intact.
But Altman still understood the team needed an additional jolt of 3-point shooting. So when Danny Green was released by the Houston Rockets, Cleveland swiftly acquired the veteran 3-and-D wing.
Green has been a key role player on three championship teams, serving as a reliable perimeter defender and 3-point specialist. This sounds like a dream to the Cavaliers, who are desperate for this exact skill set.
The concern? Green is in his 14th NBA season and fresh off an ACL injury. It is unclear how much gas is left in the tank for Green. Limited mobility could make him less of a contributor.
On the bright side, Green's game was never predicated on athleticism. His injury should not impact his ability to roam the perimeter and knock down catch-and-shoot opportunities. Like riding a bike, you never truly forget how to shoot a jumper.
Other Cleveland Cavaliers News
- Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: Is a Caris LeVert Trade the Right Move?
- Ranking the Top 5 Cleveland Cavaliers Individual Performances Since 2000
- Five Bold Predictions for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023
Can Isaac Okoro continue to be a starter?
While the Cavaliers scavenged the buyout market for a 3-and-D wing, Isaac Okoro has begun blossoming one of his own.
Okoro entered the league with upside as a defender. He has since capitalized on his physical gifts, quickly becoming one of the league's most annoying deterrents for opposing guards.
His issue, though, always resided on offense. Okoro struggled to space the floor or serve as much of a scoring threat. He shot just 29% from the 3-point line as a rookie and has had some horrid cold stretches throughout his three seasons in Cleveland.
However, Okoro finally put something together by finishing his sophomore season at a healthy 35% clip. He's bounced back from a slow start this year, connecting on 46% of his 3-point attempts since January 1.
This is all reassuring but it's still too early to know if Okoro can continue to be enough of a floor-spacer to remain in the starting lineup. He's shooting just 4-of-19 from deep in his last four games -- the type of stretch Cleveland simply could not afford to have in the playoffs.
Will Kevin Love return to the rotation?
Last season, Kevin Love was the veteran scorer who provided the Cavaliers with timely sparks off the bench. He finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting and helped the Cavaliers make a run at the playoffs.
This year? It hasn't been such a happy story.
Love played awfully for over a month, shooting just 36% from the floor across 22 games. Considering he's never been a plus defender, the Cavs coaching staff had no option but to yank him from the rotation.
But it's not as simple as Love regressing due to age. He began the year red-hot from deep, clipping 40% of his 3-point attempts before fracturing his thumb. A direct line can be drawn between Love's injured shooting hand and his plummeting efficiency.
With Love resting on the bench, there is hope he could fully heal from his thumb injury and return to the lineup after the All-Star break. While the Cavaliers have been wildly successful recently, winning seven straight games, they still miss the floor-spacing Love provided in the frontcourt.
Are you already signed up at DraftKings and FanDuel? Need a new sportsbook? Click "CLAIM NOW" on the amazing offer below for a new place to make your NBA bets!
You might have missed...
Tony Pesta graduated from Cleveland State University in 2022 with a degree in journalism. He covers the Cleveland Cavaliers for Fear the Sword and OddsChecker. You can follow him on Twitter at @Tony_Pesta.