How would Corey Brewer fit with the Cleveland Cavaliers? -- Terry Pluto
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Corey Brewer (13) drives to the basket.
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Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
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on November 17, 2014 at 1:07 PM, updated November 17, 2014 at 2:55 PM
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What to do about shooting guard?
That's what the Cavaliers are thinking about as they face Denver at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday night.
It took coach David Blatt only three games to confirm what most others probably knew from the moment the Cavs added
Kevin Love and
LeBron James to
Kyrie Irving -- namely, that
Dion Waiters is best coming off the bench.
The Cavs asked Waiters to shoot stationary 3-pointers and defend in order to blend in with Irving, James and Love. But Waiters is a "high usage" player, as the current NBA stat freaks now label guys who need the ball ... a lot.
So the Cavs turned to
Shawn Marion at shooting guard, although the 6-foot-7 veteran has been primarily a forward during his 16-year career. Marion doesn't need to score, nor does he demand the ball. In his first five starts, he averaged a mere 6.2 points and shot 56 percent from the field in 27 minutes.
The big number is this: The Cavs are 4-1 with Marion starting. The other big number is this: James is averaging 39 minutes a game, and that's too much.
The big idea is this: Marion was signed to back up James at small forward. The Cavs still would like that to happen.
The big dilemma is this: The Cavs have limited options at shooting guard if they return Marion to the bench.
They can:
- Put Waiters back in the starting lineup. That doesn't appear likely. The Cavs like the idea of Waiters being instant offense as a reserve, a role that I have advocated for him dating back to his rookie season.
- They can start rookie Joe Harris, but that's a lot to ask of the second-rounder from Virginia. Yes, Harris has had some nice moments, but do you contend for a title starting Joe Harris?
- There's Mike Miller, who has started at shooting guard in the past. But Miller has not looked good this season. He is shooting 3-of-12 (2-of-10 on 3-pointers) in 97 minutes. He is 34 and in his 14th season. Miller has dealt with a lot of physical problems. He also has started very slowly in some seasons, and then played well in the post-season.
- Start Matthew Dellavedova, whenever he returns from his knee injury. He will be out for several more weeks.
- Trade for someone such as Minnesota's Corey Brewer.
The Cavs are 4-1 since putting Shawn Marion in the starting lineup. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
The Cavs don't have to rush into any deal. Marion has stabilized the starting lineup. The Cavs are finding their identity as a team that can average close to 120 points against most teams.
General Manager David Griffin has a $5.3 million trade option that he can use at any point this season.
Brewer is the one player who apparently is on the market now, and he does have some appeal to the Cavs. But others may become available later as teams lose and owners want to cut payroll.
So as I discuss Brewer and the Cavs, it's NOT because anything is imminent.
WHO IS COREY BREWER?
He's a quick, lean 6-foot-9 "wing player," meaning he can play either small forward or shooting guard. The 28-year-old averaged 12.3 points and shot 48 percent last season for Minnesota. He is not a strong outside shooter (28 percent on 3-pointers last season).
WHAT'S THE APPEAL?
He doesn't need the ball. Much like Marion, he likes to defend. He is tall. He plays very hard. He is a team guy, not out to pad stats.
Some media outlets are making a big deal of the fact that he played with Love in Minnesota last season. ESPN's Tom Habersoth reported that Brewer scored on 41 passes of at least 20 feet from Love last season. I have no clue where that ranks in the NBA, but it's a lot.
Brewer can run well on the fast break. The Cavs are determined to play at a quicker pace.
As I wrote in Sunday's paper, when they take a shot in the first 10 seconds of a possession they are the NBA's most efficient offensive team.
Watch the games. When the Cavs are rebounding on the defensive boards and running down the court they are beautiful to watch and score easy basket after easy basket.
Brewer fits because he can play shooting guard, defend and doesn't demand the ball. And he brings even more speed to the team for the high-octane offense.
The Cavs need someone to defend shooting guards. Think about some of the top scorers in the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler is an emerging star in Chicago. Lance Stephenson (Charlotte), Joe Johnson (Brooklyn), Dwyane Wade (Miami) and DeMar DeRozan (Toronto) can deliver lots of offense.
WHY IS BREWER AVAILABLE?
Brewer is with Minnesota, which is losing. His contract is for $4.6 million this season, with a player option for $4.9 million next year. The Wolves would not mind dumping the salary.
Minnesota has Mo Williams and Kevin Martin at shooting guard, and Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammed at small forward. They have Thaddeus Young and Anthony Bennett at power forward, although Young can play small forward. They have a lot of guys and they are sorting through the roster.
Brewer is not a big part of their future. He is not a star. Many of his skills match a good team such as the Cavs, where a role player is so valuable. Minnesota needs to find out what young players such as Wiggins, Bennett and Muhammed can do for them.
WHO IS INTERESTED?
The only other team reportedly interested in Brewer is Houston.
That's according to ESPN. The Rockets have James Harden at shooting guard, Trevor Ariza at small forward. They also have veteran Jason Terry at guard, and a young player named Kostas Papanikolaou at small forward.
Brewer would give them some depth, but it doesn't appear they need him to fill a pressing need.
Dion Waiters can be a valuable player coming off the bench for the Cavs. Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer
WHAT IS THE PRICE?
That's what will be interesting.
I'd be shocked if the Cavs traded a first rounder for Brewer.
They have their own first round pick in 2015. Boston owns their 2016 top pick (in the cap-clearing deal before they signed James). They have a future Memphis first-rounder with some restrictions.
It gets complicated, but the price for Brewer should not be that high. If it is, the Cavs should pass.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The Cavs have a $5.3 million trade exception, and that can cover Brewer's $4.6 million salary. So the cap is not a problem.
They have some second-round picks that are protected 1-55 ... in other word, they are almost worthless. But they can be traded.
They can throw in a young player such as 7-footer Alex Kirk.
The point of trading for Brewer would be that he comes cheap for the Cavs ... and he cuts payroll for Minnesota.
ABOUT DION WAITERS
He is a valuable player off the bench. He averaged 19 points after the All-Star break. The Cavs were 4-4 when Irving was hurt and he started at point guard.
There were three other games where both guards were hurt.
I like Waiters. I know he can be immature, but he is a productive scorer. The Cavs need depth, especially with Irving's injury history. Irving has missed 49 games in his first three seasons.
Also, the Cavs are an older team. Players such as Marion, Miller and James need rest.
You don't just dismiss a talent such as Dion Waiters.
FINAL POINT
The Cavs do NOT have to make a deal for Brewer or anyone else -- unless it is very favorable to Cleveland. They can stick with the current lineup with Marion. They can also wait for Miller to play himself into better shape with his shooting touch.
But it's up to Griffin to keep searching for players to upgrade the roster. He'd still love another big man, but those are very hard to find.
He has worked deals with Minnesota before -- witness the Kevin Love trade.
So he has a good relationship with Flip Saunders, who coaches and is the general manager of the Wolves.
That's why it's natural they'd talk about Brewer. But that doesn't mean there is any rush to make this trade.
source:
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/11/looking_at_how_corey_brewer_wo.html