The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing a frustrating brand of basketball right now. They’re frustrating fans, the front office, and most importantly, themselves.
Losers of six of their past eight games, the Cavaliers find themselves major off-court distractions, while trying to rediscover their winning way on-court. According to reports, the New York Knicks propositioned the Cavaliers with a straight swap of Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony, sending every media outlet into a frenzy.
A trade involving two high powered athletes such as Love and ‘Melo would have led to both teams making major adjustments. Something that the Cavs can ill afford in their current horror losing stretch.
FOX Sports Ohio made the bold move of asking LeBron James what his thoughts were on the situation, fresh after the tough overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. He answered the question swiftly and bluntly, knocking down any further rumors.
This is no time for soul searching or playing fantasy basketball.@KingJames knows exactly what the @cavs need to do. pic.twitter.com/0QxW5B6fsq
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) January 26, 2017
“I have no reaction. We’ve got 14 guys in here. They need to be ready every night. What we got in here, we gotta play. Can’t play fantasy basketball,” James said. “We got who we got, and we gotta go out and play.”
LeBron James and his Cavaliers have given up an average of 117.8 points a night over their past 5 games, and have allowed their opponents to score 100+ points in their past 11 outings. Carmelo Anthony would maybe help the Cavs out on the offensive end of the floor, but that’s not where the problem lies.
The turning down of the trade has to be seen as a good thing for Cleveland. Anthony would only create more problems for a Cavs team that is already fighting so much.
So thank you David Griffin, thank you for making the right move.
