As last Thursday’s NBA trading deadline approached, the Cleveland Cavaliers team found itself barreling down the tracks on a freight train to futility. Going into the deadline, the Cavs were just 7-13 since Christmas and appeared as dysfunctional as a team could get.
LeBron James reportedly lashed out and cursed at Cavs front office officials for its inaction in terms of acquiring better players. Isaiah Thomas’ long-awaited return to the court had been underwhelming. Off the court, Thomas repeatedly criticized his teammates as well as his coach, Tyronn Lue. The Cavaliers squad was old and couldn’t defend anyone.
Once Kevin Love went down with a broken hand, it became evident, that that Cavs, as constructed, had zero chance at winning a championship. Heck, the route in which the team was headed, it might not have made it out of the first-round in the East.
Then came deadline day.
Cavs GM Koby Altman summoned his inner-Harry Potter and magically crafted three deals that immediately changed the team’s trajectory.
First, Cleveland sent Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and its own 2018 first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
Next, the Cavs acquired Rodney Hood and George Hill from the Utah Jazz in a three-way deal that also involved the Sacramento Kings. In return, the Cavaliers sent Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose to Utah. Cleveland also sent Iman Shumpert and a second-round pick in 2020 to Sacramento. The Kings also received Joe Johnson from the Jazz.
Lastly, Altman realized that future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade’s best days were behind him and that he would likely be pushed to the end of the bench with the team’s new acquisitions. So, with Wade’s blessing, the Cavs shipped Wade back to the Miami Heat for a protected second-round pick.
The trades brought a desperately-needed injection of youth into the Cavaliers lineup. Clarkson, Nance and Hood are all 25-years-old. While George Hill is 31-years-old, his has much less wear and tear on his body than Thomas, who only recently returned from a severe hip injury or the oft-injured Rose, both of whom are 29-years-old.
The news of the trades, each broke by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, sent Twitter into a frenzy.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” @LearnedCitizen tweeted.
— Hannibal Barca (@LearnedCitizen) February 8, 2018
“WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT,” added @OladiPOPE.
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT
— Dean Hyatt (@OladiPOPE) February 8, 2018
Since the deals were completed, the Cavs have rattled off three-straight blowout victories. They include wins over the Atlanta Hawks (123-107), Boston Celtics (121-99) and Oklahoma City Thunder (120-112).
In the five games before the trade deadline, the Cavs gave up 117.6 points per game. In the three games since the purge, Cleveland’s new and improved defense has held teams to 106 points per game.
The team is playing with energy and excitement that has rarely been seen this season.
“It’s changed our team, and we’re a lot faster,” Lue told reporters.
“These young guys we have, able to shoot, drive or pass it, adds a different element to our team,” he later added, according to ESPN.
Of course, the moves couldn’t and wouldn’t have been successful without the stamp of approval from Cleveland’s biggest star.
“I think Koby did a heck of a job of understanding what our team needed,” James said via SLAM Magazine. “It just wasn’t working out for us.”
Just like that, the Cavs have gone from finished to favorites (in the East) in the blink of an eye.
Five in a row for the Tigers
Two-and-a-half weeks ago the Mizzou men were considered on-the-bubble for the NCAA Tournament. After three consecutive losses, the Tigers’ tournament chances were hanging by a thread. Now, the Tigers team is on the bubble of a Top-25 ranking and could be a lock for the Big Dance for the first time since 2013.
Cuonzo Martin’s club has rattled off five-consecutive victories, including wins over the Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies, both ranked #21 at the time of the wins.
The team has been driven by the stellar play of graduate senior Kassius Robertson. On Monday, Robertson was named the SEC’s Player of the Week for the second-consecutive week.
In the past five games, Robertson is averaging 20.6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s also shooting 46 percent from behind the arc.
The Tigers have also seen improved play from freshman Jontay Porter. He has averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during the Tigers winning streak.
Meanwhile, Porter’s older brother, Michael Porter Jr. is scheduled to meet with his back specialist Thursday, to find out whether he will be cleared for full-contact activities. MPJ has publicly stated his desire to return to action this season. With his doctor’s blessing, the future first-round pick could return to the lineup within the next two weeks.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
