This year’s NBA trade deadline (February 23rd at 3:00 p.m. EST) is approaching fast, and teams across the association are scrambling to find available pieces that best fit their rotational puzzle.
The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers have certainly been among the teams who are “in the market,” but it seems they don’t want to rush into anything, as Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reported earlier this afternoon.
I suspect #Cavs will find post-trade deadline buyout market to be more beneficial than another trade. Their deal came when they got Korver.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 21, 2017
As Amico stated, there may still be players available through the post-trade deadline buyout market. Whether or not the Cavs make another roster move can only be speculated on at this point.
Amico also reports that Iman Shumpert, Cleveland’s savvy defenseman, is indeed available. Shumpert, a 6-foot-5 guard who is averaging 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 25.4 minutes per game, has been receiving a lot of attention from teams around the league.
Will say this about #Cavs: Opposing execs have told me Iman Shumpert is clearly available and there is indeed interest around league.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 21, 2017
Shumpert, 26, has been a key component of Cleveland’s rotation for a long time, and the city loves his work ethic. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, who is currently carrying the highest offensive rating of his career (111 points per 100 possessions), has been helping his Cavs teammates fill the void that was created when J.R. Smith went down with a fractured right thumb. This season, “Shump,” as Shumpert is affectionately known, is shooting a career-high 40.3 percent from beyond the three-point line. However, with the Cavs’ recent acquisition of Kyle Korver, and a plethora of marksman on the wings, Shumpert could indeed be a player involved in a deal.
Both Amico Hoops and ESPN reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams who have strong interest in Shumpert’s services. The Timberwolves haven’t quite recovered from their sluggish start to the season, but they are just three and a half games out of the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference. Shumpert could be a solid replacement for Minnesota’s Zach LaVine, who has been ruled out for the season due to the torn ACL he suffered earlier this month.
If anyone on the Cavs’ roster has value in trade talks, it’s Shumpert. With lock-down defensive skills, impressive athleticism, and an aggressive mentality, it’s no wonder why teams are interested.
