Very quietly, the Cleveland Cavaliers have started their transformation. A couple of subtle recent moves have indicated that coach Byron Scott is looking for a little more athleticism on the roster.
This is something sorely lacking on the Cavs’ current roster, which is one of the least athletic in the league particularly at the big guard and small forward spots, where virtually every NBA team has a guy who can run the floor and hammer dunks.
The release of F Jawad Williams allowed the team to bring in the 2010 D-League Rookie of the Year in Alonzo Gee, who most recently had been playing for the Washington Wizards, playing sparingly in 16 games, averaging 2.1 points per contest.
Gee is a big guard, at 6’6″ and 220 pounds out of Alabama, and is regarded as a guy who can get up in the air.
Williams’ game is that of a three-point shooter, who seemed reluctant to put the ball on the floor and struggled defensively. He hit three shots from beyond the arc in his last game as a Cav, probably his best game of the season, but he was more effective on a team with LeBron James than he was this year.
Scott also indicated that former first round draft choice, Christian Eyenga, who has been playing in the D-League for Erie, could be brought back to Cleveland soon. Eyenga is another guy who can flat-out jump, and is 6’5″ and 210 pounds. There is no question the team needs size in the backcourt, where outside of Anthony Parker, who is now playing small forward, the biggest backcourt player getting any time at all is Ramon Sessions at 6’3″.
And there are rumors all over the place that the New York Knicks are interested in Sessions, who seems to still be a shoot first point guard, and hasn’t really fit in with the wine and gold. The Cavs might be interested in getting back another athlete in 6’11” power forward Anthony Randolph, who is just 21, but has fallen out of favor with coach Mike D’Antoni.
Randolph is regarded as a player with a whole lot of potential to be a standout player in the NBA.
The wine and gold also sent rookie F Samardo Samuels to the D-League to get some court time, which could signal an enhanced role when he returns. Backup C Ryan Hollins’ playing time has been dwindling, and Scott needs some size in the frontcourt.
The coach has commented that he needs a post player on offense, and that Samuels has a low post game. Plus, he’s another guy with the dreaded “P” word–potential.
The head coach has to look at his team, which currently sits at 8-23, and realizes it’s not going to get much better using the same guys he is using now. He is giving his starter heavy minutes since the change in the starting lineup, which brough Daniel Gibson and Antawn Jamison onto the first unit, and knows he has to get some contributions from his bench.
Why not go with young, athletic guys to get some production? After all, they may just get better with the experience.
The way the season has gone thus far, with 14 losses in their last 15 games, there is really nothing else to do. Give these young guys a shot. Perhaps they can put some life into a team is a desperate need for a jolt.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 