Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Point Guards That Could Replace Mo Williams

4. Jameer Nelson, Denver Nuggets

Jameer Nelson was one of the players that I thought the Cavaliers were going to target last season before the deadline.

He doesn’t have the size of Dellavedova or even Williams, but he does know how to control a team, and what it takes to play in an NBA Finals. Many Cavaliers fans dreadfully recall the playoff run the Orlando Magic had in 2009.

Some believed that it was the Cavaliers year since they were rolling through the competition, but the Magic thought otherwise. Nelson, Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu were unstoppable in that Eastern Conference Finals.

Nelson averaged 19.0 points per game and was shooting .393 from three-point range.

That was championship basketball played at it’s best.

Since that time, Nelson has played for three different teams. He isn’t the sharp shooter or consistent penetrator to the basket that he was with the Magic, but he can still run an offense and play solid perimeter defense against opposing guards.

He might be one of the strongest point guards in the NBA with his upper-body strength. He uses it to his advantage on defense, and when he drives to the basket to possibly get the foul call.

Nelson would also help teach Irving  how to run an offense. Most of the time last season, James brought the ball up while Irving played off of it. That’s fine, but most coaches want their point guard to take control of the offense instead of leaving it up to their teammates.

The biggest thing he would teach Irving is how to say “no.” His years with Howard demanding the ball in the paint likely taught him how to defer the ball elsewhere.

If the Cavs were to trade for Nelson, they would likely have to trade little in return since the Denver Nuggets are focused on the development of Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay.

He would be a good veteran leader to add along with James and others.

Next: 3. Mario Chalmers