The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into the All-Star break playing some great basketball and as the trade deadline gets closer, the Cavs may look at adding for some support behind Norris Cole, Mo Williams, Jose Calderon, Jeremy Lin, Tyler Ennis and Jameer Nelson as potential targets as LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie try and make a title run.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Cleveland.com reports that the Cavaliers are hoping to add some point guard depth at the trading deadline, as they want to have a competent option off the bench behind Kyrie Irving for the second half of the season. The Cavs have not been shy about making moves to tweak the roster for LeBron James and at the deadline names like Tyler Ennis, Norris Cole, Mo Williams and Jose Calderon could be potential options.
Cole previously played with LeBron James in Miami and could be on the move for the Heat with Mario Chalmers starting and Shabazz Napier getting a push. Cole is a solid defender and James praised him during his time with the Heat. Cleveland.com reported that the Detroit Pistons were interested in a trade for Cole after losing Brandon Jennings to an injury, while the Cavaliers also could be in the mix. Williams reportedly has interest from the Clippers, Miami Heat, Cavaliers and Pistons with the way Minnesota has been playing.
Jeremy Lin is too expensive to fit for the Cavaliers with the way the final year of his contract is, while Calderon has two years and over $10 million left and likely leaves him out. The Knicks are looking to move Pablo Prigioni and he could be a potential target, while Tyler Ennis could be expendable with the Suns, as they have Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. Michael Carter-Williams has been shopped by the Sixers, but they likely want more than the Cavs are willing to give up.
The Cavaliers have been an active team all year when it comes to trades, adding Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and JR Smith in separate moves over the last two months. The team of course traded for Kevin Love in the offseason and while he has had some struggles lately, he is leading the team in rebounding and has been a big factor in the Cavs success. The team has their 12 game winning streak snapped against the Pacers and while that was a disappointing loss, the Cavaliers have firmly put themselves back into contention in the eastern conference.
The Hawks have been the best team overall and the Bulls had been leading the Cavs in the central, but now Cleveland is in first place in their division. The team was under heavy criticism weeks ago when they sat one game under .500, but after getting LeBron James back after an extended absence from an injury, the team has played much better and has only lost once in 13 games. The team has a tough schedule coming up with games against the Bulls and Wizards on the road and they will also host the Golden State Warriors, who have been the best out west.
