Cavs Interested in Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson


A Wheeler's Opinion: Given the current situation of the Cavs, trading for Clarkson MIGHT help

Despite their 30-20 record which puts them in the 3rd spot in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers will need all the help that they can get from here on. They have only won 4 of their last 10 games and will need to find ways to keep on winning without Kevin Love who is out for a notably long time due to a broken hand. Aside from that, Tristan Thompson may be back but isn't the same player he used to be during the Cavs' championship run in 2016. And, Tyronn Lue continues to be looking lost at times especially in games whenever the Cavs are down by a big margin.

With the trade deadline almost at reach, the Cavs are among the teams that are expected to make big changes in their roster in hopes that they will keep their chances of going back to the NBA Finals and face the Golden State Warriors for the 4th consecutive time-  that's assuming that the Warriors will get back to the Finals, too.

Right now, the Cavs are rumored to be targetting various players which included DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers. Apparently, the Cavs are willing to send Thompson alongside Iman Shumpert and/or JR Smith for the two Clippers. If Kevin Love wasn't injured, there's  high chance that the Cavs will include him in the trade package for Jordan and Williams. 

However, DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams aren't the only ones from Los Angeles who are catching the interest of the Cavs. In fact, Cleveland is also interested in making move to acquire Jordan Clarkson from the Los Angeles Lakers.

To begin with, Jordan Clarkson is currently the Lakers' third-leading scorer, averaging 14 points per game in 50 games that he played for the Lakers so far. Having said that, this would help ease out the lack of production of Tyronn Lue's bench players especially now that they are short-handed.

However, the Cavs will need to be careful in choosing who to send to the Lakers for JC6 because if you trade the wrong guys, nothing will change in the Cavs.


What's the best move for the Cavs?

Right now, the best deal for the Cavs is to send Channing Frye and Isaiah Thomas to the Lakers in exchange for Clarkson plus Julius Randle. Why? Isaiah Thomas isn't playing like the point guard that he was last season and Julius Randle is no longer happy with his diminishing minutes. And despite the fact that both Clarkson and Randle have been well as of late, it appears that both players will be sent elsewhere before the trade deadline.


Prediction

As good as Clarkson is as a bench player who has a potential to become a star, this pundit on wheels doesn't believe the Cavs will make a move for JC6. They need a defensive stopper right now, an elite one. Unfortunately, Jordan Clarkson isn't one. However, he is also a good addition to the bench of Coach Lue and if the Cavs will pull the trigger, Jose Calderon might even lose his minutes. 

Comments