Recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers have stumbled out of the gate, limping to a 1-2 record through their first three games of the young NBA season. This has come from poor defense, being too passive on offense, and sometimes just plain unwillingness to play hard. The Cavs need a spark to jump start this team (a team that many predicted to make the NBA Finals) to become a real contender. Right now, the Cavs are having LeBron James play the role of facilitator. While LeBron is great at being a playmaker, he is much better when he attacks the rim and looks to get his shot. The Cavs need LeBron to attack the rim, but they can’t, as they feel that Kyrie Irving can’t play the true point role as well as they hoped. There is one simple solution to this problem: trade Irving to the Celtics for Rajon Rondo.
I know what you are thinking, this team was just assembled, lets hold off until we go forth on breaking up the big three. However, who would say no in an Irving for Rondo swap? The Cavs get a lockdown perimeter defender, who is arguably the best passer in the game, AND he has a championship under his belt, something Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love do not have. The Celtics get another piece to add to their young backcourt of Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, and James Young. The Celtics would get a guy who can create his own shot, something that only Jeff Green and to a lesser extent Kelly Olynk, can do.
The Cavaliers adding Rondo would be the perfect fit. Rondo understands how to play with other stars as well as anybody in the league, playing with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce all those years in Boston. Also, Rondo has an abundance of playoff experience, including his ten triple doubles in the playoffs, good enough for 3rd all time. Rondo is a great perimeter defender as well, something the Cavs have been extremely lacking in this short season.
Kyrie Irving would fit in almost perfectly with the Celtics. He and Marcus Smart could form one of the best back courts in the league. Irving fits perfectly with Smart, as Smart is average at best on offense and a standout defensively, essentially the complete opposite of Irving. Kyrie Irving would also have the most room he has ever had to drive into the lane. Olynk and Jared Sullinger can both hit mid-range jumpers and they could pull away the defense, creating great opportunities for Irving.
This trade would benefit both teams, each in their own different direction. The Cavs get the experienced veteran who provides elite playmaking and defense, while the Celtics get another building block, in addition to their already impressive young talent and draft picks. This trade may seem as an overreaction to some, but it truly does benefit both teams.
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