How does Byron Scott improve the defense post All-Star break? @ktjazz14
A lot of people within the Cavaliers organization would like an answer to this, too. Part of the problem is guys are just young and make mental mistakes, such as Dion Waiters leaving Kawhi Leonard all alone in the corner just seconds after Scott told them not to give up a 3.
Dealing with 21-year-olds isn’t always easy. They tend not to listen and be forgetful.
But that’s only part of the problem. The real issue I see is a lack of an overall system. I think Scott is expecting these guys to police themselves too much and expects them to understand too much when they’re too young to do it. His first year in Cleveland, Scott really simplified the defensive schemes for a while. The Cavs defended the pick-and-roll only one way so everybody knew what they should be doing at all times. It might be time to go back to that.
I know it’s very early but what position should we target in draft? @J_McCurry08
Although the small forward position is probably the most glaring hole, I’d expect the Cavs to target a big man with their top pick. If Mo Speights isn’t in the long-term plans, the Cavs are back to having Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller and an injury-prone Anderson Varejao as their only big men. As valuable as big men are across the league, that has to be more of a need than small forward.
Should Marreese Speights and CJ Miles start over Zeller and Gee? @BrownsTown22
No. Zeller and Gee are blocks the Cavs are building around long term. Zeller is completely overmatched right now and Gee has been awful offensively, but Scott wants them to stand in there and take their lumps for now. He is convinced they’ll be better players for it down the road.
Starting Speights and/or Miles is a short-sighted fix, particularly since the Cavs aren’t going to the playoffs and this season is about development.
If the Cavs do make a major trade for an established player with their assets, would it be over the summer or next season? @BMacinCle
Most likely over the summer. It’s impossible to know who might be available four months from now, but the type of trades the Cavs would be targeting are for premium players. Those deals are hard enough to make out of season and nearly impossible to pull off during the season.
Odds Cavs trade Boobie, Casspi, Speights at deadline? Varejao still on the block? @dhruvsster
What’s your gut feeling about what Cavs will do with Speights? @nick_latessa24
None of the players mentioned in the first question have much trade value. Speights likely has the most, but I’d be surprised if he is dealt before Thursday. I think the Cavs are probably going to ride it out with him this season and let him walk if he opts for free agency.
The reason the Cavs were able to get a first-round pick for Ramon Sessions last year was because the Los Angeles Lakers were desperate for a point guard and he was the best available. If not for the Lakers, the Cavs might not have gotten anything for Sessions because there wasn’t a big market for him.
There doesn’t seem to be much trade noise involving the Cavs these days, but that can certainly change quickly at this time of year.
