Tag: de’andre hunter

Cavs Get Hunter, Hunting A Title

We have said many times over the last couple of years that the Cleveland Cavaliers needed more size, and they addressed it on Thursday getting De’Andre Hunter from Atlanta for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, some second-round draft picks and some pick swaps.

Hunter stands out because he’s a 6’8″ wing and most of Cleveland’s wing are in the 6’5″/6’6″ range. When you pair that with two smaller starting guards, it’s a problem against long, athletic teams.

Hunter is having his best year in a sixth man role with the Hawks, averaging 19.0 points per night on 46% shooting and is making 39.3% of his threes. That latter figure is trending up over the last two seasons, hitting 38.5% last year.

Now, Kenny Atkinson has two tall wings in Hunter and Dean Wade, when he gets back and hopefully can stay healthy.

The loss of LeVert will be underrated by some who only judge basketball on numbers, but he was one of the few Cavs who can create his own shot and gave the wine and gold some size in the backcourt. To us, he was Cleveland’s fifth best player, a spot now taken by Hunter.

However, Ty Jerome can pick up the slack in the shot creation department, he is very creative around the basket and is a very good passer as well.

And Niang was a solid three-point shooter at 40% and Atkinson was using him at power forward at time, albeit he was undersized. His locker room presence will be missed.

There was a lot of discussion about chemistry with the Cavs, but remember Hunter played with Ty Jerome at Virginia, so there is a locker room connection there, and both played for Tony Bennett at UVA, and Bennett was one of college hoops’ finest teachers. In our opinion, playing for him means you know how to play.

And that’s one of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ strengths.

We would still like to see team president Koby Altman need some more size in the buyout market. There were rumors the Cavs were interested in 6’10” Ben Simmons, but he signed with the Clippers.

But Simmons is more of a wing defender and the Cavaliers need another post presence. The thought that keeps going through our head is if Jarrett Allen and/or Evan Mobley get hurt (hopefully nothing long term), Atkinson’s only alternative is Tristan Thompson, and that’s an issue.

If Atkinson wants, he can go with Mitchell or Garland and Jerome in the backcourt (6’2″ and 6’5″) with Hunter, Mobley and Allen up front. That’s more of what most NBA teams do in terms of height.

He can also use Max Strus or Isaac Okoro (6’5″) in the backcourt as well.

Cleveland still has an open roster spot, so we would expect Altman to find another player with size who is bought out or perhaps in the G-League.

Again, this player wouldn’t be expected to be a rotation piece, more like some insurance in case of injuries or foul issues.

We wrote the other day that the Cavs did have tremendous chemistry but were also in a unique situation because of their record. Altman decided to push the chips to the middle of the table, something we wish another team in the city would do.

Cleveland should be better vs. long, athletic teams, and it is clear the goal is to now get to the NBA Finals and win it.

Just an excellent move.

No Luck, Neither Good Nor Bad, Involved In Lottery For Cavs

The NBA’s Draft Lottery was Tuesday night, and this year, for the Cleveland Cavaliers, there wasn’t any luck involved, neither good or bad.

The biggest percentage chance for Cleveland to end up was fifth, and that’s exactly where they wound up.

So, save the gripes about how the Cavs got screwed.  In fact, we laughed all spring at media folks who said the wine and gold had to get the first pick, when the percentages said it was a 14% chance.

Now, by consensus, the first three picks in the draft will be Zion Williamson, who was the prize of the lottery, and will no doubt be the choice of the New Orleans Pelicans.  And most agree the next two picks will be Ja Morant of Murray State, and another Dukie, R.J. Barrett.

That would seem to leave GM Koby Altman with a choice of Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver, Duke shooter Cam Reddish, Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland, and Virginia swingman De’Andre Hunter at the 5th spot.

And don’t forget, the Cavs have a second first round pick, the 26th selection, obtained from Houston in the deal where Cleveland took Brandon Knight’s high salary off the Rockets’ hands.

The biggest need for Altman and new coach, John Beilein is talent.  Right now, the Cavs have one All Star caliber player in Kevin Love, and some other “nice pieces” in Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman, and Ante Zizic.

Sexton could develop into an all star type, and perhaps Osman can too, but if those two wind up being solid starters, that would be fine.  There will always be a place on a team for someone with Nance’s skill set, and Zizic is still raw, but has ability.

Former Cavs’ GM Chris Grant used to say there are a few very good players in every draft, and his job was to find one of those players each year.

For what it’s worth, based on what we’ve seen and read about each of the prospects listed above, we would lean toward Culver, who is a student of the game, played in a great defensive scheme at Texas Tech, and whose weaknesses could be overcome with work, and he seems willing to do that.

The 26th overall pick could be important too, because don’t forget Altman could package that choice with a player, probably an expiring contract to move up from that spot.

Remember, the JR Smith contract is a very large asset as a trade chip.  Maybe he brings back a higher pick and maybe even a third first rounder this season.

More likely though, Altman would be looking for another first round pick in the 2020 draft, to give him two next year.

Regardless, the Cavaliers have a very good chance to get a good piece this summer.  And Altman will be moving at least one or two higher priced veterans (Tristan Thompson?) to accumulate more assets.

Remember, the best players on three of the remaining teams in the NBA playoffs were drafted 15th (Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo), 6th (Damian Lillard) and Stephen Curry was picked 7th overall.

We will read a lot about the players who will be taken with the 5th pick between now and the draft at the end of June.

There is talent available in the draft, it’s up to Altman to find someone who can help.

MW