It came as pleasant surprise to many that Dwyane Wade ultimately decided in favor of a reunion with former Miami co-star Lebron James, hightailing it to Cleveland. It’s no secret that the two are close; Wade held no grudge when James came back to Ohio. The more pressing question now is: How will this player movement help the Cavaliers in their quest for a second title in three years?
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| Image source: cavsnation.com |
More depth is the quick answer. Particularly in the guard position, where the Cavs already have the services of Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and J.R. Smith. Wade’s presence will equate to more rest for King James throughout the season, letting him run amok during the playoffs. LBJ loves to carry the ball down the court especially during fast breaks, but this was hampered in the previous year’s campaign with Kyrie Irving’s tendency to kill the shot clock with hero ball and less passing. This should be addressed by Wade’s arrival, alongside other key roster changes.
Cleveland’s other acquisition is star guard Isaiah Thomas, who should have an instant impact on the Cleveland offense when he gets back from injury during the second half of the season. This all-star new guard cast should be more open to passing, leading to more threes from veterans Kyle Korver, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye.
Ball movement will likewise lead to better inside plays from Kevin Love, Jae Crowder, and Tristan Thompson. Hustle should be upgraded, too, with Jeff Green and Iman Shumpert (who will be taking fewer threes this year) taking care of loose balls. Finally, Ante Zizic should be a huge boost at the center position (which was formerly the Cavs’ waterloo) since Tavares, Perkins, and Frye are not bulky nor strong enough to compete with other Eastern Conference bigs.
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| Image source: sports.yahoo.com |
Arizona-based James DeVellis is a college student majoring in sports business. He wants to be a full-fledged sports writer someday. For more sports updates, visit this blog.
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