The Cavaliers sent the mercurial Dion Waiters to Oklahoma City and bench depth players Alex Kirk and Lou Amundsen to the New York Knicks,while the Cavaliers added Iman Shumpert and J.R.Smith from the Knicks and a top 18 protected first round pick from the Thunder.
The Thunder also added a Knicks bench player in Lance Thomas,while New York also obtained a 2019 second rounder from Cleveland.
First,lets talk about what the Cavaliers lost in Dion Waiters.
In my opinion,Waiters is a me first guy that has to have the ball in his hands to be successful and might best be suited to be a 25 point scorer on a .500 or lower team.
Waiters has always struck me as being happier scoring 30 points and losing than 12 and winning.
I don't know that obviously,but that is the feeling that one gets by watching him.
I was lukewarm on the Cavaliers taking him to begin with despite his talent because he appeared that way in his college years at Syracuse,let alone his later NBA years.
Waiters seemed disinterested in defense and never seemed to settle in as a supporting player either early in his Cavalier tenure with Kyrie Irving nor currently with LeBron James.
Waiters was thought by many (myself included) as a best fit as an offensive sixth man where Waiters could lead a second team where he could have the ball in his hands more often as the focal point of that group.
That really hadn't panned out for the most part and I do think that it was time for the Cavaliers to make a move with Waiters...
The additions to Cleveland are interesting as well with Iman Shumpert and J.R.Smith joining the Cavaliers.
Shumpert is considered the key to the deal despite being injured at the current time with a shoulder issue that he is expected to return from soon....
Shumpert gives the Cavaliers a good fit on the wing with a player that can defend shooting guards very well and some small forwards.
The athletic 6'5 Shumpert brings the backcourt an excellent defender with someone that can finish on the break.
Shumpert has had two less than strong seasons after an strong rookie year,so a change of scenery could just what he needs to return to form.
J.R.Smith is known mainly for two things- Outside shooting and a personality that brings the term "locker room lawyer" to mind.
Supposedly,LeBron James was consulted on adding a player with Smith's reputation and gave the okay to add Smith to the trade.
Smith's outside shot should help a team without a offensive threat off the bench and with the right attitude,Smith could be a huge steal...
Cleveland adding the Thunder's 1st rounder (protected through 18) might help the Cavaliers in working on obtaining the center/"rim protector" that the team has badly needed all season.
Not saying that will get this done,but it adds another chip to the table.
My thoughts on the trade?
The Cavaliers could have addition by subtraction here as J.R.Smith brings better shooting and Iman Shumpert brings better defensive skills than Dion Waiters and the Cavaliers have improved their depth at least.
If J.R.Smith comes in with the right attitude,he could prove to be very helpful off the bench and Shumpert is a much needed help on the defensive end,so this could be huge.
I also think that Dion Waiters could struggle in Oklahoma City for the same reasons that he didn't get the most of his ability in Cleveland,so this could be a huge upgrade.
There is risk here,but the Cavaliers needed a little shakeup right now and this has the chance to be a move that sets some chemistry issues in order.
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