After trading Dion Waiters for J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, the Cleveland Cavaliers appear to have given up on signing free agent Ray Allen. Meanwhile, Cleveland likely isn't finished making moves: they'll either make a trade soon or, as insurance, they'll waive A.J. Price on Wednesday to have room on the roster to pursue a big-man free agent - probably Jermaine O'Neal.
Cleveland completed a trade Monday night with the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to both ESPN and Yahoo Sports. The trade, as reported, could be a telling sign of what the Cavs plan to do next.
Per ESPN:
"As part of the deal, Dion Waiters goes to the Thunder, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert go to the Cavs and three players with nonguaranteed contracts -- Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson from the Cavs and Lance Thomas from the Thunder -- join the Knicks. Also, the Thunder are sending a protected future first-round draft pick to the Cavs, who are sending their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks.
"The Thunder are sending a protected 2015 first-round pick to Cleveland in the deal."
Smith provides Cleveland with - they hope - scoring off the bench, and Shumpert gives them a much-needed perimeter defender. Taking back Smith's contract and picking up Shumpert gives the Cavaliers a crowded backcourt, which suggests the team has given up on signing Allen - either because the 39-year-old veteran indicated to Cleveland he plans to retire or sign elsewhere, or because they simply couldn't hold out for him any longer.
Cleveland likely isn't finished tweaking their roster, either. They have a depleted frontcourt, and they've long needed a rim-protector. Cleveland has already been linked to a number of trade rumors, and their stockpile of picks - potentially three first-round selections in 2015 - put them in a position to lure teams into giving up a center.
Trading - they've been linked to Roy Hibbert, Kosta Koufos and Timofey Mozgov - would be their best option. As insurance for if they can't complete a deal before the Feb. 19 deadline, Cleveland will likely waive Price on Wednesday to have room to sign a free agent big man at some point. Emeka Okafor reportedly will take another season off to further rehabilitate his neck injury, making O'Neal the top center still on the market.
