Report: Cavaliers making Iman Shumpert available in trade talks
The high-top fade star could be looking at a new zipcode as the Cavaliers pursue wing and big man help.
By
Matt Moore
•
1 min read
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Iman Shumpert last year because they felt they needed upgrades on the wing in terms of defense and shooting. Shumpert was the key player GM David Griffin targeted, and J.R. Smith was supposed to be the poison pill they had to swallow. Instead, reportedly, LeBron James adamantly wanted J.R. Smith and Shumpert was the throw in.
Smith and James are best buds, while Shumpert has struggled with several injuries. He's shooting just 32 percent from the field. The Cavs have consistently been involved in trade rumors over the past week, with the targets all wings. They only really have Anderson Varejao's partially-guaranteed deal and Timofey Mozgov's expiring contract to dangle, so you knew they were going to offer something else.
And it turns out Shumpert may be that something else. From ESPN:
Sources say that the Cavs, though, have been more and more active in recent days in pursuing upgrades to their bench, with center Timofey Mozgov and swingman Iman Shumpert -- both in the midst of down seasons after their mid-season arrivals in 2014-15 -- said to be available. Players who interest Cleveland, sources say, include dream target Kyle Korver (who would naturally be very difficult to pry from Atlanta) and Kings reserves Ben McLemore and Kosta Koufos.
Source: Trade buzz: Kevin Love untouchable? - Marc Stein- ESPN.
Shumpert has a good attitude and is a much better defender than Smith but if he's not knocking down 3-pointers, he's an issue on the offensive end. Now, the Cavaliers' have more than enough offense so they don't really need to worry about it, but almost all of their moves seem centered around an offensive focus.
You're not targeting Kyle Korver to improve your defense. Ideally, they seem to be looking at either Trevor Ariza or Ben McLemore, both of whom are shooting better from range. They're also looking for a big man who could help their defense, though, with Kosta Koufos a target, as reported above.
Shumpert is just 25, and while he's had a myriad of injuries, he's two years removed from a torn ACL and his other injuries haven't been long-term issues. He should fetch interest on the market.
Plus, he's a great rapper, so that's a bonus.
