The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to find their stride with each game they play. That was put on display Monday night as the team got up 21-0 on the Charlotte Hornets before going on to win the game. Talk of chemistry struggles and poor play are starting to fall to the wayside, but trade rumors are not. The Cavaliers still have issues when it comes to defense and rim protection which continues to open the team up to trade talk as a large number of players are now available for dealing.
The Cavaliers have really turned their defensive struggles around, but have not solved them completely. The team continues to allow the 6th-worst percentage in the league at the rim. They also are not getting the turnovers that many teams are. The pick-and-roll defense needs help while they are having trouble guarding big men under the basket. So of course, with assets at their hands, could the Cavaliers make a deal to help the defense going forward?
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has linked the Cavaliers to many deals, some realistic and some not. Trade rumors are currently flying around Detroit Pistons big man Greg Monroe. The two sides failed to negotiate a contract in the offseason, forcing Monroe into a one-year qualifying deal. Now currently available for trades, Monroe is denying he is requesting a move.
"To say I was unhappy, losing 13 in a row, you can say that about everybody on the team," Monroe said, via MLive.com. "Nobody's happy when you lose 13 games in a row. But as far as where he took it, that was completely false, and it's really, like, ridiculous to have to come in here and answer questions like this."
A deal for Monroe will not happen. According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News is reporting the Pistons are demanding a first-round draft pick for Monroe. That will not happen, especially from the Cavaliers. Cleveland gave up a lot to get Love, they will not do the same for Monroe. That will also keep them from likely entering the races for either Brook Lopez or Lance Stephenson. The Cavaliers do not need another super star on the team that will cost them more draft picks or assets. They could offer up someone like Dion Waiters or Tristan Thompson, but Cleveland will not hand over a first-round draft pick in a deal.
The Cavaliers do have realistic options. Both Chris Andersen and Timofey Mozgov are available for deals and would be significantly cheaper while serving a need for Cleveland. The Cavaliers could very easily make a trade before the deadline. They might have to in order to get far in the postseason, but it will not come at the expense of quality young players and draft picks.
