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This year's trade deadline was supposed to be a quiet one. But then the Cavs decided to completely get rid of half their players. The Cavs traded Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas, Dwayne Wade, Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert. They traded their 1st round pick as well. (Not Brooklyn's). They recieved George Hill, Rodney Hill, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance. This may feel too much for what they recieved, but as we go deeper we have to ask the question, are the Cavs better now?
At first look this may not look like a good trade for the Cavs. They lost Isaiah, who just last year was 5th place in MVP voting, along with their 1st rounder. Although, it looks like they just made one of the worst trades in history, if dive into the numbers you will find different.
With Isaiah on the floor the Cavs have been 5-10. They can't stop opposing teams with their defense. The Cavs have a horrible 109.7 DRTG. This is the 28th in the league, and for a team that just made it to the NBA finals. This just can't happen for a contender. The Cavs getting Larry Nance, and George Hill is going to benefit their team a lot.
Larry Nance is one of the most electric players in the NBA. He is a strong rim protector, and one of the best dunkers in the NBA today. The Celtics and the Raptors have to be worried that this monster is now on the Cavs.
Along with Larry Nance, the Cavs also received Jordan Clarkson from the Lakers. He is a young scorer, that can rejuvenate this unmotivated Cavaliers team. The Cavs need someone that can motivate them once again, and bring back the fire they had in their 2016 Championship run.
Clarkson is a young player that the Cavs need. They can't have a locker room full of veterans that think they can lead the team. They need someone who understands their role, and can really help the team. Clarkson is a young scorer that can bring some momentum to a Cavs team, that has not really been trying. He is averaging 15.5 points, and can be a very valuable player for the Cavaliers.
That being said, one veteran that the Cavs do need is George Hill, who can be a lot of help to the Cavs. They have been playing with Isaiah Thomas at Point Guard, which is just not helping their defense or their offense. Isaiah Thomas can't stop larger point guards at his position, and he just can't benefit the Cavs. Thomas is a very ball dominant player, and Lebron needs the ball to help the Cavs win.
George Hill is one of the best defenders at the Point Guard position. He is a veteran that understands defenses, and knows what to do to help his team in late game situations. He knows that he has to step back, and let the offense be directed by Lebron. This was a big problem with IT, as he wanted to direct the offense.
Lebron loves setting up 3 point shooters. This is why he loves Kyle Korver so much. George Hill is shooting 45% from deep, only behind Klay Thompson, Joe Ingles, and Reggie Bullock. Lebron is going to be ecstatic to play with George Hill. George Hill is a veteran that the Cavs need, if they want to make a Championship run.
The Cavs received Rodney Hood from the Utah Jazz. He is another shooter that Lebron will love. Trading away players like Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, and Iman Shumpert are smart moves for the Cavs. They need more 3 point shooters, and Rodney Hood is the perfect guy to get. Hood is another young player, that can bring some intensity to this team.
The Cavs did have to give up their 1st round pick, but if you look at the Cavs team as a whole, they have constructed a team at the deadline, that the entire East have to be worried about. The Cavs have won 3 straight since the trade deadline, and they are playing like a completely different team. Like a team that can win a Championship.