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It wasn't a shock to anyone when the departure of LeBron James in 2018 sent Cleveland Cavaliers down a spiral in the hierarchy. Since that summar, the Cavs have been in a rebuild mode and now the success is again starting to touch the franchise. GM Koby Altman has done a fantastic job building a competitive team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a decent start to the 2020-21 campaing, winning 6 of their 13 games so far. They currently sit at the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference, which is a vast improvement from finishing dead last the previous season.
Five players the Cleveland Cavaliers should target before the NBA trade deadline.
Collin Sexton has by far been the most impressive player for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. Unlike some of the other members of the 2018 NBA draft, Sexton's name isn't brought up that much but there is little doubt that the 22-year-old is having a career year right now.
Averaging 25 points a game, leading the Cavaliers in scoring, Sexton is the centerpiece around whom the franchise will be looking to build around. He along with Darius Garland, who is averaging 17 points a game, could form the core of a young roster that could definitely do damage in the East in the coming years.
Let's have a look at 5 players the Cleveland Cavaliers could acquire to improve their roster prior to NBA trade deadline.
#1 - OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors)
OG Anunoby has become a key player for the Toronto Raptors over the past few years. He signed a vital four-year $72 million extension with the 2019 Champions over the last offseason and would be a great fit on a young Cleveland Cavaliers roster.
After shooting over 50% from the field the last season, OG is currently averaging 13.1 points a game for Toronto. Moreover, he has much-needed playoff experience that the Cleveland Cavaliers could make fair use of in the future. He also does well under pressure, most famously nailing a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against the Boston Celtics in last year's playoffs.
Toronto could make excellent use of a center like Andre Drummond, who seems to be in the form of his life, putting up 19.25 points and 15.75 rebounds a game.
#2 - Donte DiVincenzo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Donte DiVincenzo has had a rough offseason with the Milwaukee Bucks, being a part of the sign and trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic that eventually fell through and saw him eventually staying with the team. Since then, the 23-year-old has done well for himself, scoring 10.3 points a game, with an astounding efficiency of 44% from the three-point line.
Milwaukee could be a potential suitor in the case of a Kevin Love trade by the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which case DiVincenzo should be one of the players they aim to get. Along with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, the three of them can be lethal in a three-guard lineup, similar to what OKC used last year with Denis Schroder, Chris Paul, and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
#3 Talen Horton-Tucker (LA Lakers)
One player Cleveland Cavaliers should keep an eye on is Los Angeles Lakers' Talen Horton-Tucker, one of the most talked-about young players in the league right now. As per reports, many teams seem to be interested in the young star who enters free agency this offseason. He started off well in the preseason and has continued on that same path, in the limited opportunities he has got so far in the season.
Playing only 15 minutes a game, Horton-Tucker has done well, averaging 6.8 points a game, including a career-high 17 points against the Houston Rockets recently.
Horton-Tucker's versatility to play at multiple positions is what would make him such a valuable player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Moreover, his contract status gives Cleveland Cavaliers a chance to develop the 20-year-old and their young guard duo.
#4 Kelly Oubre Jr (Golden State Warriors)
Kelly Oubre Jr went to the Golden State Warriors just this offseason and no one can deny that he has had a slow start to the 2020-21 NBA Season. Starting alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the absence of Klay Thompson, he had big shoes to fill in, which he has struggled to do so far.
However, just this week, he had his best game of the season, against the LA Lakers. At this moment, Kelly is shooting 36.6% from the field and 20.3% from the three-point line. Even though there is some improvement in his game, it is nowhere close to what the Warriors need to remain championship contenders.
Kelly Oubre Jr does become a free agent at the end of this season, so if the Cleveland Cavaliers could make the 25-year-old feel good about the team, they might benefit from his presence by signing him long term.
#5 Dario Saric (Phoenix Suns)
The Phoenix Suns look like they're setting themselves up to make a deep playoff run this season. Which is why it might be a tough task for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a move for the 26-year-old Dario Saric.
Saric had a fantastic bubble coming off the bench for the Suns in the phenomenal 8-0 run, averaging 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. He is seeing a reduced role with the franchise this season, even though he continues to average 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting over 44% from the field.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could trade for the Croatian big man giving up veteran center Javale McGee, who's earlier experience with a championship team is something that the Suns could put to great use. Saric can fill in the roles of both a Power Forward and a Center, making him a valuable bench piece in the Cleveland Cavaliers' plans going ahead.
