The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t looked like a team with a lot of weaknesses thus far in the 2024-25 regular season. Their record of 21-4 is tops in the NBA, and they currently rank in the top 10 in the league in both offensive and defensive rating.
However, if one wants to nitpick, Cleveland’s depth at the wing spot has some room for improvement. Granted, Max Strus — who was the Cavaliers’ starting small forward a season ago — is set to make his season debut against the Washington Wizards on Friday. But Cleveland seems to lack a wing who’s very effective at both putting the ball in the hoop and getting stops.
Unsurprisingly, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday that the Cavaliers will probably scour for help at the wing position later on in the season.
“Pro scouts have been sharing that the Cavaliers are likely to emerge as a team on the hunt for wing help as the season progresses,” Stein and Fischer wrote.
“Sources stress that Cleveland isn’t aggressively pursuing upgrades yet, but the Cavs know — even amid a 21-4 start — that they will need all the perimeter defense they can muster to deal with Boston, New York and Orlando (if the Magic can get themselves healthy) to get out of the East.”
Caris LeVert has maybe been Cleveland’s best wing on the offensive side of the ball so far this season. The small forward has yet to start a game since the beginning of the season, yet he’s averaging 11.8 points per game on 53.7 percent from the field and 48.5 percent from 3-point range.
In addition to his scoring chops, LeVert is also a proven and productive playmaker. He’s dishing out 4.1 assists compared to only 1.3 turnovers per game off the pine.
He put together an offensive masterclass in Cleveland’s win over the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 5. He totaled 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 from deep to go along with six assists.
Isaac Okoro, conversely, has probably been the Cavaliers’ most impactful wing defender. Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised Okoro’s versatility on that end not long ago.
“It gives you such a comfort level to have that guy you can stick on somebody, whether it’s Trae Young, so whether it’s a point guard or we can say, ‘Hey, go guard Jayson Tatum tonight,’” Atkinson said. “Isaac can guard fours, he can also switch onto fives because he’s so strong. … He’s kind of a little bit been not talked about, but he’s been great, using him in the pocket too, in the pick and roll.”
Okoro has started 14 of the 21 games he’s played in with the Cavaliers this season, and Cleveland has a record of 19-2 in the contests he’s suited up in.
Hopefully, the Cavaliers can soon add a wing that has the scoring and playmaking chops of LeVert and defensive versatility of Okoro. Cleveland still has plenty of time to make a deal before the trade deadline, which is scheduled for Feb. 6 of next year.
