Cleveland Cavaliers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Reaction
The clear matchup of the month did not disappoint. The Oklahoma City Thunder, on a 15-game win streak, visited the Cleveland Cavaliers, now on an 11-game win streak. This matchup was the first of its kind—a historic contest which could very possibly be a preview of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals. Oklahoma were off to a hot start, but the patented Cavaliers' resilience kept them in the contest in this wire-to-wire bout. What impresses me most about this win for the Cavs is the next-man-up mentality of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, each with over 20 points.
Despite Donovan Mitchell’s lacklustre performance, posting 11/6/4 on 18.8% from the field, the Cavs found a way to get it done. Simply by looking at this box score, my biggest concern with the Thunder is all too noticeable: a distinct lack of size. Yes, Holmgren is injured, and Isaiah Hartenstein has been very solid in his new role so far this season, but otherwise, the Thunder are going to have a tough time competing with teams as big as the Cavaliers. It’s the primary reason they lost to the Bucks in the NBA Cup. If the Thunder match up against a big team, it’s going to be hard for them to win if they don’t shoot to near perfection. Their exterior defence is fantastic, but the interior is definitely their biggest concern.
Meanwhile, for the Cavaliers, this is yet another impressive win which may have been somewhat unexpected. The Cavs continue to prove themselves as a serious Finals threat. This team can win in so many ways that it is difficult for other teams to gameplan, and this matchup was a perfect example; Donovan Mitchell was severely underperforming, and they were comfortable making the adjustment and giving the keys to Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Both of these teams are young, passionate, and nightmare matchups for potential playoff opponents in the near future.
What went wrong for the Pelicans?
Once acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason, there was an expectation that this team may be ready to take the next step. Having only been to the playoffs twice in the past six years, with a record of 2-8, this season was a great opportunity for the team to develop a personality. Yet now, almost 40 games into the season, this team is completely irrelevant and likely has all eyes on next season.
The struggles of this team are somewhat understandable. They have been brutalised by injury since the start of the season. Zion Williamson has only played seven games, Brandon Ingram 18, newly acquired Dejounte Murray 21, and CJ McCollum 25. It has been nearly impossible for the team to find a reliable rhythm with a confirmed set of starters. However, the team’s 7-31 record, which has them last in the West and second last in the NBA (Washington Wizards - 6-29), suggests the issues go much deeper than injuries. Teams have been ravaged by injury all season and still find ways to remain relevant—for example, the 76ers, who were without their big three for the first four weeks and are without their rookie star for the rest of the season; the Orlando Magic, who are in fourth place despite currently being down three of their starters; or the Dallas Mavericks, who have won their last two games even without Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. So, what exactly is the issue for the Pelicans?
The Pelicans have won one of their last 15, and what emerges is a lack of belief that they can get the job done. Now that Williamson has returned from injury, hopefully, they can string something together because their scoring over the past few weeks has been awful. CJ McCollum is the team's leading scorer with an average of 22 ppg, which puts him in 35th place among all NBA scorers. He also leads the team in assists with only 3.8, putting him in 81st place in the league. With a team-wide 44% from the field, they sit in 29th place, and with 33.6% from 3-point range, they sit in 27th place.
Another major concern is their average of 15 turnovers per game, which has them in 17th place. This combination of complete court mediocrity is the clearest reason behind this terrible season.
The Pelicans still have a solid roster, which is why their record is so confusing. Perhaps with the return of Zion and Ingram, they can turn nothing into something, but with an estimated probability of less than 1% to make the playoffs, they would need a legendary spark to salvage this season.
Don’t look now, Pistons fans
In what is possibly the most surprising single-season turnaround in recent memory, the formerly 14-68 Detroit Pistons have found a groove and sit at eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a record above .500—a feat unseen since the 2017-18 season. Winning eight of their last 10, the Pistons are on an extremely unexpected stretch of high-level play. Despite losing Jaden Ivey for the next few months, their role players and bench fillers have been spectacular. Cade Cunningham is having a career season, averaging 24/6/9 and commanding a once-hopeless team on a possible path to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Malik Beasley has been solid, offering 16/3, coupled with Jalen Duren’s 9/9, and what seems to be a good home for Tobias Harris with 13/7/3. The Pistons are a team to watch over the next few weeks. Hopefully, they can continue this rhythm in the period without Jaden Ivey and extend beyond play-in seeding for a shot at the playoffs. It is extremely easy to root for a team like the Pistons.
Key Trade Deadline Targets
With the trade deadline just over three weeks away, rumours regarding the whereabouts of players post-February 6 are circulating. Already, names are being shopped, and there are a few highly impactful players on this list who could prove extremely valuable for teams trying to make a mid-to-late season playoff push or to solidify or increase their seeding. Here are a few names to monitor within the next few weeks.
Zion Williamson
Since entering the league as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, Zion Williamson has majorly struggled to stay healthy and is yet to partake in a full season of NBA action injury-free. Missing 207 games so far in his five-year career (having only played 191), he hasn’t quite been the reliable franchise guy the New Orleans Pelicans expected when they drafted him. The key for Zion, which makes him an interesting trade deadline target, is his contract; specified in his contract is a caveat which states that if he were to miss more than 22 games in either 2022-23 or 2023-24, then his 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2027-28 contracts are not guaranteed. He missed 53 games in 2022-23.
Zion’s future is incredibly difficult to predict. While he has a history of injury which severely diminishes other teams' interest in trading for him, he is part of a select few players who can operate at a franchise level, and a part of an even fewer amount who are hypothetically available.
However, if he were to be traded, who would be the front runner, and what would the Pelicans get in return?
Considering their signing of Dejounte Murray, as well as the ageing of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, the clear path would be players over picks with a ‘win now’ attitude. A few possible partners include the Golden State Warriors, who have been actively searching for another star to help out Curry for the past few years and who have a number of young, talented, potential future stars which could help the Pelicans in various ways. The Milwaukee Bucks are also an option. While any deal likely wouldn’t include Giannis, Khris Middleton is a name which has been floated around this season for a potential trade.
Zion is an extremely talented player who can dominate as a number one option when healthy. However, this possible healthiness is far more concerning for Zion than a lot of teams will be comfortable with.
LeBron James
A seemingly annual tradition—LeBron isn’t getting the support he needs. Could he be traded? If so, where to? Once again, the Golden State Warriors are probably the favourites if he were to be traded, trying desperately for one last championship push before Curry retires. It remains uncertain whether James will be traded—I, for one, don’t believe he will be—but if he is, there are very few teams who wouldn’t be interested. The question then becomes: what can you sacrifice, and what is the benefit-to-cost ratio?
I could see LeBron returning to Miami to finish his career alongside Tyler Herro and Erik Spoelstra. Jimmy Butler is all but gone, and Bam could be following soon after. Considering LeBron probably only has two or three seasons left in the league, the Heat could immediately establish themselves as solid playoff contenders, unphased by the recent turmoil with Butler, and give their young stars a chance to learn from the greatest of all time.
Otherwise, I don’t believe there are many teams who should trade for him. The capital teams will have to give for three seasons of performance is not worth it for organisations like the Rockets, Magic, Pacers, Hawks, or Spurs—young teams who have a solid foundation but would have to blow it up in acquisition of LeBron.
Once again, I doubt he will be traded, but if so, look for a team which has bordered the line of irrelevance over the past few seasons to make a move.
Zach LaVine
For Zach LaVine, either the Bulls need to make a trade to get him the help he needs, or he needs to leave Chicago. The 29-year-old is being wasted by the Bulls, constantly on the outskirts of the playoffs, occasionally making it in only to suffer a first-round exit. LaVine is capable of controlling a contending team, but if it didn’t work on a Bulls team with LaVine, DeRozan, White, and Vucevic, Chicago isn’t the place for him. LaVine is a player who would be well suited to a younger team looking for a final piece before making a deep playoff push.
Key teams to monitor with this in mind are the Heat, Pacers, Pistons, Hawks, and Timberwolves. Any of these teams could (and should) be more than willing to sacrifice a few pieces for LaVine, whose trade value is undoubtedly lower than it should be.
The fact of the matter is that LaVine has flown under the radar for a long time—not really discussed in conversations of great players—when in the past five seasons he has averaged 27/5/5, 24/5/5, 25/5/4, 19/5/4 (25 games), and 23/5/5 through the first 32 games of this season.
LaVine is an extremely consistent player who has developed an excellent rhythm of play throughout his career, yet he could likely be traded for very cheap. Zach LaVine is a major piece to watch before the deadline, and if not by February 6, then the upcoming offseason.