4. Perfect Fit
Assuming that getting Wade would also mean the departure of Kevin Love, the current Cavaliers roster would mesh perfectly with Wade’s style of play and position. Tristan Thompson would be able to play center with James, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye interchanging at the two forward spots.
With Kyrie Irving at the point guard position, the only real hole to fill on the roster would then be at the shooting guard position. J.R. Smith is set to become a free agent and may cash in due to his championship experience, and Iman Shumpert has not yet made the steady improvement that the Cavs have wanted.
With Wade, you get the best of both players. Wade has been a Hall-of-Fame level offensive weapon for all of his career, and his defense has been second-to-none for most of it.
Even amongst championship rosters, a little bit of change is always good. Bringing in veterans who know how to reach the ultimate goal and are still hungry to win one are absolutely vital to a title defense.
In the NBA, if you are not getting actively better, you are actually getting worse, because all the teams that couldn’t defeat you the last time around will be coming back twice as hard.
Acquiring Wade would be an obvious improvement on several different levels for the Cavs, and would set the stage for an incredible title defense.
And Wade himself has indicated that sometimes it is best for both player and franchise to move on, even if that means going to a rival team to compete for a championship.
“It obviously doesn’t look it right now, like it was the best thing for this organization,” Wade said about LeBron’s departure in 2014. “But you know, I think at the end of the day change is going to be good for everyone.”
Now, in 2016, Wade’s remarks may just apply to himself.
Next: Shrinking Championship Window
