Cavaliers ink Richard Jefferson,trade Rakeem Christmas

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to improve their bench with needed shooting and preferably with a veteran background.
Cleveland did both with the addition of well traveled Richard Jefferson to the veteran minimum contract for a one year.

Jefferson isn't the slashing player that he was in his prime,but what the 35 year old has done is change his game to become a knockdown three point shooter.

I discussed this in yesterday's podcast and what I see Jefferson becoming in the Cleveland offense is exactly what the team hoped that they would be able to bring with the long hype which was unrewarded for Ray Allen-A three point shooter that can bolster the second team in offense and when he plays with the number one unit,Jefferson can command the respect of defenders and not allow them to play inside the paint exclusively.
Jefferson shot 42 percent last season from three point range and is a 38 percent shooter for his career.
Looks to me that Richard Jefferson is going to easily fill the slot vacated by J.R. Smith and perhaps even more....



Cleveland also re-signed veteran James Jones to a one year deal to provide his long range shooting from the deeper part of the bench,
Jones shouldn't be counted on every night,but could be an occasional help on the odd night.
Cleveland also traded their top draft pick in second rounder Raheem Christmas to the Indiana Pacers for a 2019 second round pick.
I wrote when the Cavaliers drafted Christmas that he could have helped as a rebounder/shot blocker,but would need development time at best and might have struggled to see time off the bench.
Christmas could be much better off in finding court time as a Pacer with Indiana losing big men David West and Roy Hibbert as Indiana continues to rebuild.

I hope to be back with a few Braxton Miller thoughts and part two of our interview with Jessica Rosales soon!

Cavaliers draft three forwards in the 2015 draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers started the evening with a first and second rounder in the 2015 NBA Draft.
At the end of the night,Cleveland had the rights to three players in the second round and added a second rounder in the 2019 draft as Cleveland traded the rights to their first rounder (thoughts on this on the latest podcast) Duke point guard Tyus Jones to Minnesota for the rights to two Timberwolves second rounders (31 and 35).

With this sudden bounty of second rounders,Cleveland selected a 20 year old from Turkey in Cedi Osman to stash away for the future and a possible bench reinforcement in Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas before using their second rounder on St.John's forward Sir'Dominic Pointer to complete the draft.

Let's call it straight-this was a salary deal.
NBA first rounders get a guaranteed contract,second rounders do not.
A first rounder on paper would be a million (roughly) guaranteed,but considering the Cleveland salary tax situation,keeping the first rounder could have cost the team four to five times as much for a player that was likely not to play often.
I like the potential of Tyus Jones and I think R.J. Hunter (was available at 23,later picked by Boston) could have been an offensive help off the bench,but both were maybe's for 2015-16 at best and Cleveland needs to have as much money open as possible for July to put their FA contracts in order and hopefully land another piece to the roster and if that means deals like this,then I'm reluctantly O.K.....

Cedi Osman's stats are less than dazzling in Turkey,but is highly regarded on the defensive end and has excellent athletic ability with nice work in transition.
Osman's offensive skills need work according to draft express and looks to be a role player in the league,if he matures as a player.
Osman is reported to want to join the NBA now,which is unlikely unless he is willing to hit the D-League with the Cavaliers team in Canton...

Rakeem Christmas is a 6'10 power forward from Syracuse that stayed all four years and shoots a high percentage with a larger than his size wingspan that enables him to be an excellent shot blocker and rim protector.
The problem? Limited offensive moves,doesn't seem to have the explosiveness that you'd like to and doesn't appear to be anything more than a undersized postup player.
Christmas could make the team as a defensive rebounder off the bench,especially in the absence of Anderson Varejao,which seems to happen every year...

Sir'Dominic Pointer from St.Johns is a 6'6 forward renowned for his defense and for underwhelming shooting.
Pointer looks to have a future in Canton for the next year or two,where with luck and work,he could develop into a athletic defensive specialist against shooting guards or small forwards.
More likely,he'll turn out to be remembered best for a unique name...

Back later with the Devils first overall pick at the six spot in the NHL Draft...