The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to make at least one trade at the deadline this season and if they target players like Wesley Johnson, John Henson, Samuel Dalembert, Timofey Mozgov, Gerald Green or Kosta Koufos, the team likely will have to move either Dion Waiters or Tristan Thompson to get a deal done, as they are hoping to add some depth on defense for LeBron James.
The Cavaliers did not end up trading for Brewer after some initial interest, as they are hoping to add a big man rather than a wing player. The Houston Rockets moved on Brewer and got that deal done and now Pro Basketball Talk reports that David Griffin is looking to make a move for a defensive big man up front to help the team. The Cavaliers are currently ranked in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency and they rank near the Pistons, one of the worst teams in the league.
The Cavaliers are still considered to be one of the favorites in the east this season, but they have not been off to a great start and have some issues on the defensive end. The team is just 16-10 on the season and Griffin likely has one move to make, which is why he didn't go for Brewer, as the Cavs need help elsewhere and that is more pressing. The team has a $5.3 million trade exception and with the trade deadline in min-February, the team has plenty of time to work something out.
Mozgov has been mentioned since the summer and since the Nuggets are not exactly looking to trade him, some other options for the Cavs include Henson and Dalembert. Henson is more likely than Dalembert, but the way the Bucks are playing they may actually look to add at the deadline rather than sell. The team has money invested in Larry Sanders and that could get the team to move Henson, especially if Thompson or Waiters are in the deal.
The Cavaliers have had interest in Mozgov and Brewer this season along with Koufos, but the player they really would like to add is Matthews. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Cavaliers have made numerous offers to the Blazers for Matthews, but the team is not currently interested in moving him. Matthews is set to be a free agent after the season and the Blazers are planning to re-sign him.
The Cavaliers defense has been the weakest part of the team this season and the Cavs are hoping to shore that up with either a big man up front or a wing defender outside. Brewer is considered to be a top defensive player and he was an option, but the Wolves ended up moving him to the Rockets. Mozgov was a target over the summer, but the Nuggets like how he has developed and he also is on a team friendly contract.
The Cavaliers have now put together another nice little winning streak, as they beat the Nets and the Grizzlies in back to back games and they are looking much better than they did early in the year. The Cavs come in ranked 15th in the league in points allowed and 24th in rebounds per game and they now have a win against one of the best teams in the league in the Grizzlies.
