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Cleveland Cavaliers: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the fourth quarter with guard J.R. Smith (5) against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the fourth quarter with guard J.R. Smith (5) against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 25, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) greets Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) before tip-off at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Odds And Ends

The Cavs’ roster is largely the same as in 2015-16, but the front office also made a couple of minor moves to round out the edges of the rotation.

For starters, there was the Sasha Kaun salary dump, sending the rarely used youngster to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum. The trade was made in order to clear enough room for Chris Andersen.

By signing the Birdman to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum, LeBron adds another favorite former teammate of his. Andersen and James played together in Miami, winning a championship in 2013.

Though he only averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game last year with the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, the Birdman is only meant to supply Cleveland’s frontcourt with extra depth, not play a significant role in repeating as NBA champions.

In the category of former Heat teammates, the Cavs also brought back James Jones on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. The 14-year veteran averaged a meager 3.7 points in 9.6 minutes per game last season, but shot 39.4 percent from three-point range and serves as a “desperate times, desperate measures” option on the wing.

Cleveland also exercised its team option on third-stringer Jordan McRae for the 2016-17 season. McRae, who owns the NBA D-League single-game scoring record with 61 points, averaged 24.3 points per game for the Cavs’ NBA Summer League team this offseason and earned All-Summer League First Team honors.

Finally, the Cavaliers added DeAndre Liggins to a non-guaranteed, two-year deal (with the second year being a team option). Originally drafted back in 2011, this 6’6″ shooting guard has spent the last few years bouncing around the D-League, Russia and Germany.

Liggins helped the Sioux Falls Skyforce win the D-League title last season. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on .500/.455/.800 shooting splits for Cleveland’s NBA Summer League team this summer.

None of these new additions moves the needle much for the Cavs, but having a little extra depth in the event of injury never hurts either.

Grade: C+

Next: Overall

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