The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to make at least one major move at the trading deadline and a Dion Waiters trade or a deal with Tristan Thompson could be options, as the team may target names like Jeff Green, Wesley Matthews, Corey Brewer, Timofey Mozgov or Kosta Koufos heading into the winter to help give some support to LeBron James.
The Cavaliers had an eight game winning streak and have since lost two in a row and Marc Stein at ESPN.com reports that they are looking to add depth in some areas as the season wears on. The defense has been the weakest link for the team this season, which is why the team is weighing whether to concentrate on adding a wing player or a big man up front. Mozgov or Koufos could be solid options, but the Nuggets and the Grizzlies like their underrated bigs and likely will not give up those players without getting Waiters or something like that in return.
Waiters has come up in trade rumors since last season and he is the most likely player to get moved, as the Cavs have plenty of options behind him off the bench. Mozgov would be ideal for the Cavs, as he is a young player with above average defensive skills and strong rebounding skills. The Nuggets are not motivated to move Mozgov though, as he is on a team friendly deal and has been progressing over the past two seasons. On top of that, the team just lost JaVale McGee to an injury and that likely makes Mozgov a more valuable piece to the team.
The Cavaliers have a strong roster of veterans and now they have lost two straight after an eight game winning streak and that could cause some concern for the front office. The team pulled out of their slow start with the streak, but they have been giving up a lot of points in games and that is why defense should be the focus at the trading deadline for the Cavaliers. The team is now 13-9 on the season after losing to the Pelicans and he is heading into a matchup with the Hornets and then the Hawks.
James and the Cavaliers know that winning a title will not be easy and LeBron has said that it will take time for the players and the roster to come together. The team added a ton of veterans in the offseason and now they could look at adding another one. Brewer is a target for the Houston Rockets as well, while Ray Allen or Green could be wing options. Green likely will get dealt, but the Celtics may ask for more than the Cavaliers are willing to give up.
Irving and Love had continued to play well alongside James and the roster will need to keep things together as they deal with some injuries in this current stretch. Adding one more piece at the deadline could be the major move that the Cavs need, as they have to shore up the defense and rebounding, which ranks 21st in the league through 22 games for the team.