While the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to roll during its 12-2 start, it’s still looking to bolster the team’s bench by apparently showcasing reserve guard Jordan McRae for use in a potential deal.
Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com noted that in the last five games prior to Friday night’s blowout of the Dallas Mavericks, McRae had seen 10 minutes or more of action in each game. That’s a sharp contrast to Cleveland’s first eight games, where he had averaged a single minute of time on the court in those contests.
“McRae’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page — he’s averaging 2.8 points and shooting 21.6 percent — but they’re using him some as a backup point guard and, let’s face it, they’re trying to showcase him for a possible trade,” Vardon wrote.
One player whose playing time has been affected by McRae’s increased playing time is veteran Mike Dunleavy, who’s had a slow start by connecting on just 36 percent of his shots. The 36-year-old has enough experience to work through this slump, with the Cavs presumably looking to make sure he’s fully rested and healthy come playoff time.
Depending on how Sunday’s road game against Philadelphia plays out, McRae may again have a solid opportunity to see a good deal of action.
