Cleveland Cavaliers: Grading The Channing Frye Trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a great trade at Thursday’s deadline, bringing in a sharpshooting big man that could make a difference in June.

The Cleveland Cavaliers added a key rotation player at the trade deadline in an arms race to bring an NBA title to “The Land.”

The Cavaliers acquired Frye in a three-team trade involving the Magic and Trail Blazers. Frye will come compete for a title in Cleveland while the Cavs send Anderson Varejao to Portland (where he is expected to be bought out) along with a conditional 2018 first round pick, and Jared Cunningham to Orlando.

The 6-foot-11 Frye is averaging 5.2 points on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 39.7 percent from behind the arc this season in 17.1 minutes per game.

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The Cavaliers give up the 33-year old Varejao, who has spent all of his 12 NBA seasons with the Cavs and has been a fan favorite over the years. With Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and Timofey Mozgov taking up a big chunk of the frontcourt minutes, the often-injured Varejao had been dealing with career-lows in minutes, points, rebounds, and blocks per game.

Cunningham appeared in more games for the Cavs (40) than Varejao has this year (31). Cunningham has been a minus player for the Cavs, shooting only 35.2 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from deep. Cunningham gradually fell out of the rotation after J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Kyrie Irving made it back from early season injuries.

The Cavs gave up two fringe rotation players who likely wouldn’t have left the bench in the playoffs when rotations shorten up for a player who allows the Cavaliers some flexibility in their frontcourt.

Channing Frye might not be the sexiest name who has been mentioned in trade rumors, but he’s the type of role player who could swing a playoff game or even a series. Frye’s combination of size and shooting ability will allow the Cavaliers to be a bit more flexible with their lineups, something that could come in handy if the Cavs are to face the Warriors in a Finals rematch.

Frye is an ideal player to play around LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and has the potential to make life easier for Kevin Love as well.

It’s ideal for the Cavs to surround LeBron James with shooters when he’s on the floor, limiting defenses who want to send help towards James. This is where Frye fits in perfectly with the Cavaliers’ best player.

Last year in the NBA Finals, the Warriors held James to 39.8 percent shooting due to keeping him out of the paint by sending help defense to prevent James from getting to the rim.

This is where Frye could be an ideal big man to play with James, as Frye will keep opposing defenses honest and be able to punish teams who choose to send help on James by knocking down three pointers.

Frye could form a potent pick-and-pop combination with Kyrie Irving. Frye’s ability as a pick-and-pop big man was a crucial element in the 2013-14 season for the 48-win Phoenix Suns. Irving, like then-guard Goran Dragic, excels at finishing at the basket and can step back and hit the three. The Irving and Frye pick-and-pop should quickly catch on in Cleveland.

As for third-wheel Kevin Love, it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Frye. Frye could allow Love to operate closer to the basket, something that just isn’t feasible when Love shares the court with lane-cloggers Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov. Love has been sent to play on the perimeter too often since being traded to Cleveland due to who he’s had to share the frontcourt with and Frye could be the key that allows Love to maximize his talents.

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Acquiring Frye is a great addition for a team that might have to conquer the Warriors in order to bring an elusive title to Cleveland. The Warriors excel at spacing the floor and while no team can match-up with them, Frye could be a better option than what the Cavs previously had.

Off the floor, the trade is a huge win for the Cavs, who will save $10 million in salary and taxes this season. The Cavs came into the deadline with the league’s highest payroll at $109.4 million according to HoopsHype.

All things considered, the Cavaliers pulled off a brilliant trade. They gave up two players who likely wouldn’t play meaningful minutes in the playoffs for a player who will and saved $10 million in the process. For a team that is in championship-or-bust mode, the deal is a no-brainer.

Cavaliers Trade Grade: A