Golden State Warriors challengers, Part 2: Too late for much-needed Cavaliers shakeup?

Welcome back to the Golden State Warriors Challengers series. Over a two-week span, I will make the case for six teams that can prevent the Dubs from staking claim to a dynasty. In Part 2, we take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, and how a misallocation of resources has forced them into a corner.

It is not even close from the Golden State Warriors‘ side: Losing the 2016 NBA Finals was for the best. Fans can ponder whether completing the 73-win season would have been sweeter than any titles they will ever win with Kevin Durant. That’s subjective. From a statistical championships-added standpoint, there is no debate.

Less discussed is this question from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ perspective. Long-term viability is the last thing on the mind of Clevelanders, who, until 2016, had been title-deprived for more than a half century.

And considering how good the Warriors were even before Durant, 2016 may have been the Cavs’ best crack regardless. They were the fresher, healthier, hungrier team, and it still took a historic comeback and Game 7 tightrope act to emerge with the trophy.

In the 13 months that have unfolded since, it has become all the more apparent that the 2016 title is likely to stand alone. Kyrie Irving‘s bombshell trade request only reinforces that.

Cleveland learned several lessons during its first 10 NBA Finals games against the Warriors. Irving was too ball-dominant and too inconsistent. Kevin Love‘s talents were wasted next to James. Both were overmatched defensively, and both were susceptible to injury.

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Had Draymond Green not been suspended, Andre Iguodala had his back issues or Stephen Curry had his knee injury, Love, and quite possibly Irving, would already be gone. Both, ostensibly, would have been moved for two-way guys who better challenge Golden State. Instead, the Cavs came back, and swept their problems away.

As is generally true in life, an issue ignored is not an issue vanquished. Sure enough, a year later, the comfortable Cavs were walloped by the hungry and more talented Warriors. This time, they tried to trade Love, but he had traded a year of team control for a year of physical deterioration. As a result, Paul George is in Oklahoma City.

And now, Irving. It is unfair to blame Cleveland for not trading a guy immediately after he capped off a historic three-game scoring binge with the biggest shot in NBA history. Still, a seemingly untouchable 24-year-old signed for three more years has a different sparkle on the market than a trade-requesting 25-year-old with two years remaining.

Besides, the Cavs can be blamed for plenty else. Namely, failing to bring in any sort of credible two-way talent over the last 13 months.

At the 2016-17 deadline, they used their handy trade exception and a first round pick to bring in Kyle Korver. They then turned to the buyout market for Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut.

Take a look at their 2017 free agent signings thus far:

• Kyle Korver (Three years, $22 million)
• Cedi Osman (Three years, $8.3 million)
• Jeff Green (One year, $2.3 million)
• Jose Calderon (One year, $2.3 million)
• Derrick Rose (One year, $2.1 million)

Limited resources play a role in this. Korver was given the Mid-Level Exception, leaving only veteran’s minimum slots for Green, Calderon and Rose (the team owned Osman’s draft rights). That doesn’t justify these moves, particularly not through the lens of competing with Golden State.

Korver tries on defense, but that isn’t enough against Kevin Durant. Compared to Green, Calderon and Rose, Korver is Tony Allen.

The Warriors signed Omri Casspi to the veteran’s minimum. Justin Holiday got two years and $9 million from the Bulls. The Thunder gave Patrick Patterson three years and $16 million.

Jonathon Simmons — a major thorn in Golden State’s side throughout 2017 — got three years and $13 million guaranteed from the Orlando Magic.

All of these guys were completely within Cleveland’s price range. All can shoot and defend multiple positions. All would have likely taken similar contracts, if not slightly less, to play with James and Irving and compete for titles. Not one is in Cleveland.

Would Irving want out no matter how competitive the Cavaliers’ roster was? Maybe, if you believe the reports that he simply wants his own team. If you do not — count me in as someone who thinks that Kyrie “wanting to spread his wings” is simply a better PR spin than him seeing the Cavs’ impending doom when James bolts next summer and wanting to exit the building before its collapse — than this current predicament was avoidable.

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None of that matters now. The Cavs are in a dangerous spot, whoever is at fault. They are wobbling towards implosion. The nails and screws have already been removed. Now, it’s just a matter of which direction the house falls.

It is not too late to fall forward. For all of the isolation exploits that make Irving a terrific equalizer against the superior Warriors, his impact is ultimately overrated. He is a target defensively, a non-factor on the glass and an underwhelming distributor. When James sits, Irving is nearly incapable of impacting the game.

He’s a lesser player than Kyle Lowry or Damian Lillard, but is viewed as a greater one. New Cavs general manager Koby Altman can start his tenure on the right foot by playing off his point guard’s inflated stature.

Shortly after Irving’s discontent leaked, ESPN‘s Chris Haynes reported a list of Irving’s preferred destinations: San Antonio, Minnesota, New York and Miami. Altman need not oblige, but he may find it more lucrative to do so. The more a team trading for Irving believes it can extend him past two seasons, the more said team will trade.

The Spurs and Heat do not have enough to offer outside of Kawhi Leonard and Hassan Whiteside — neither of whom would make sense to move in an Irving deal. Minnesota could dangle Andrew Wiggins and Jeff Teague‘s newly signed contract (this could not be done until Dec. 15), but that would be Cleveland pivoting toward a rebuild.

If the Cavs are to both stick to Irving’s list and attempt to challenge Golden State, the Knicks are the only realistic option. They can offer Carmelo Anthony, Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas for Irving, Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert. The Cavs would be gaining a net total of two guys who can play against the Warriors, while a subsequent Love trade could replace Irving at point guard.

Ignoring Irving’s list, the most logical partner may be Milwaukee. The Bucks are loaded with two-way guards and wings, but need a second star next to Giannis Antetokounmpo if they are to ever contend. Irving fits their timeline, and they would likely part with Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, Matthew Dellavedova and draft picks to acquire him (Kay Felder or Edy Tavares would have to go back to Milwaukee to balance the money).

None of these players could step into Irving’s role as an undeniable scorer next to James, but the Cavs would suddenly have the wing depth and flexibility to match Golden State. The same would be true if the Utah Jazz went all in on an Irving and Rudy Gobert core, parting with the bulk of their quality role players. Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson for Irving, Frye and Shumpert is intriguing.

Whichever path Cleveland takes, a Love trade may fill in the holes. He could net the Cavs Eric Bledsoe if the team needs a point guard, or Anthony if they need to replace Irving’s scoring acumen. There’s a chance New Orleans takes Love or Kyrie for DeMarcus Cousins.

No matter what the Cavs do, they will be heavy underdogs against the Warriors. They are starting from a major deficit, and have already lost ground on the margins this offseason.

Still, look at this rotation:

PG: Eric Bledsoe, Derrick Rose
SG: J.R. Smith, Courtney Lee
SF: LeBron James, Kyle Korver
PF: Carmelo Anthony, Lance Thomas
C: Tristan Thompson

Or this one:

PG: Matthew Dellavedova, Derrick Rose
SG: Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon
SF: LeBron James, J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver
PF: Carmelo Anthony, Channing Frye
C: Tristan Thompson

Or this one:

PG: Ricky Rubio, Derrick Rose
SG: J.R. Smith, Rodney Hood
SF: LeBron James, Kyle Korver
PF: Derrick Favors, Joe Johnson
C: DeMarcus Cousins, Tristan Thompson

All three of these iterations—and the other possible combinations made from these trade packages—could challenge Golden State in ways that the Cavs never have. Imagine a crunch-time lineup of Middleton, Smith, James, Anthony and Thompson.

Or the terror that contract-year Favors and Cousins could impose on the Warriors’ small units. Or simply the greater floor balance achieved by swapping Irving and Love for Bledsoe and Anthony.

Next: 5 teams that should make a trade offer for Kyrie Irving

In all likelihood, the Cavs would be better off today had they acted a year earlier. It is not too late for a roster overhaul, but it must be done with Golden State squarely in mind if they are to dream of hoisting another trophy. Given the front office’s peculiar decisions over the last 13 months, that seems like a farfetched task.