What exactly is Shumpert's value then? Because the Cavs didn't give up anything for him, and his numbers here are exactly the same as they were in New York.
I think many of us are hoping that Shumpert figures it out and has a Whiteside-esque epiphany turning into an All-Star at some point in his near-future.
It's possible.
He has the athletic skill, although he could work on that, he has a good shooting stroke, and good fundamentals. He's got decent ball-handling skills, and above average defense.
Shump is a baller, but he's also a project that needs a great deal of development to really pan out.
That's one of the reasons I want to keep him; but he
is a project, and Wade is a known commodity.
One could make the argument that Shump will drastically improve over the next 2-3 seasons and be a starting caliber wing in that time (maybe more); but one could also make the argument that Wade, on limited minutes and as the 4th option on offense and having little defensive responsibilities, could significantly increase his window of being a top-tier shooting guard.
That's why, from my perspective, Wade makes the most sense out of any option on the table. He can do things that Shump simply can't do, and won't be able to do, and we only
really need him in the playoffs. Our Big 3 will get us to the Finals regardless of whether or not Shump or Wade is on the team. Once there, we need our supporting cast to pick up any slack or step up if players are injured.
I'd have a lot more confidence going into a game with James and Wade than I would with James and Shump or JR Smith; for obvious reasons.