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It's no secret that the Cleveland Cavaliers have issues at shooting guard. Dion Waiters started the first three games there before Shawn Marion took over. David Blatt cited defense as his key motivation behind the move, but Marion is playing out of position. Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Harris, Mike Miller, and James Jones have gotten minutes at the two spot.
There have already been rumors of the Cavaliers' interest in Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and now Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports the team covets Wesley Matthews of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The idyllic fit for the Cavaliers to fill their void for toughness, shooting and defensive tenacity resides in the Pacific Northwest: Wesley Matthews of Portland Trail Blazers. Cleveland has adored Matthews for quite some time and its quest of him has been repeatedly vetoed, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Portland, at 19-6, is one of the best young teams in the league and is off to its best start in 15 years. Breaking up a sturdy nucleus entrenched in a winning culture isn't in the team's plans.
Haynes' take on this is spot on. I can't imagine Portland being willing to move Matthews. That being said, he is the exact type of player the team should be looking for. The Blazers have the 6th best defense in the league, and it is thanks in no small part to Matthews' defense. He's shooting 39% from three point range and has a true shooting rate of 61. Even if this isn't an option the Cavaliers can expect to materialize, it's reassuring to me that the team is aware of what it needs.
Haynes also indicates that the Cavs interest in Kosta Koufos is real and that general manager David Griffin is being aggressive. Stay tuned.