Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 things the team desperately needs going forward
By Tony Pesta
3. A big man
This has been a longterm need for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It has been quite some time since the Cavaliers last had a dominant big man. Of course, the NBA has a whole has strayed away from the concept of utilizing towering centers. However, there is no doubt that having a reliable paint presence is a must.
All 16 current playoff teams have at least one rotational player above 6’10” aside from the Boston Celtics. For Boston, height and rim protection are one of the only things holding them back from being legitimate title contenders.
The only member of the Cavaliers that is taller than 6’10” is Marques Bolden, who has played a total of three minutes this season.
Outside of Bolden, the two tallest players on the Cavaliers roster are Tristan Thompson and Ante Zizic who both stand at 6’10”. With Thompson the only on receiving significant minutes, the Cavaliers are consistently playing small ball with players severely undersized.
To no surprise, the Cavaliers rank dead last in blocks and are in the bottom 10 for rebounds. It’s difficult to win basketball games when you are getting completely bullied in the paint each night.
The solution here is simple: The Cavaliers need to acquire bigger players. Potential No. 1 pick, James Wiseman, could become the Cavaliers top priority in the upcoming draft. Wiseman is a certified seven-footer who recorded nine total blocks in only three collegiate games for Memphis.