When talking about the Eastern Conference this NBA season, obviously the Nets, Bucks, Heat and Bulls will be brought up in discussions, but it is time that we start paying attention to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio both out due to season-ending knee injuries, maybe this team is not going to be as good as they could have been at full-strength, but the Cavaliers are still a really good basketball team.
This young group of Darius Garland, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has played so well together this season and their bench really has not been terrible either. Cedi Osman and veteran Kevin Love have been two consistent scoring threats off-the-bench and Rajon Rondo has been a key addition to this team’s backcourt, but the Cavaliers are still missing something.
The scoring and playmaking abilities of Sexton and Rubio are surely missed, but this team still needs a little bit more scoring on the perimeter/wing. Ranking 13th in the league in offensive rating and 3rd in defensive rating, Cleveland does not have many holes to fill, but they are only making the 16th most three-pointers per game and shooting just 35.2% from long-range as a team, which ranks them 15th in the league.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cavs Could Trade Ricky Rubio For Rockets’ Eric Gordon?
Adding another experienced perimeter scorer to this team could go a long way in making the Cavaliers a lock to make the playoffs this season, which is why they should think long and hard about trading for someone like Eric Gordon.
The Houston Rockets are rebuilding this season and with the trade deadline less than a month away, they will be looking to move on from veterans like D.J. Augustin and Eric Gordon. While his contract is hard to navigate, as Gordon is set to make $58.7M through 2023 with the final year of his contract being non-guaranteed, the veteran is certainly proving to still be an asset.
Through 36 games this season, Eric Gordon has averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 assists and is shooting 50% from the floor, 45.2% from three-point range. His 3.4 assists are the highest of Gordon’s career since the 2014-15 season and he currently ranks third in the league in three-point shooting percentage.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cavs Could Trade Ricky Rubio For Rockets’ Eric Gordon?
Again, his contract is definitely a cause for concern, but Eric Gordon is a contributing factor at 33-years-old and brings a ton of playoff experience with him wherever he could wind up being traded to.
Should the Cleveland Cavaliers look to target Eric Gordon ahead of the trade deadline this season? Let’s take a look at what this trade could shape up to look like.
