Cavs news and links for Tuesday, July 30th
The Cleveland Cavaliers have repeatedly been linked to the Brooklyn Nets for a potential sign-and-trade involving Isaac Okoro. If that happens, Dorian Finney-Smith would be an underwhelming return package.
Everyone is itching for the Cavs to make a move this summer. A theoretical move that brings a 6’7” floor spacer would be as satisfying as it gets. Though, Finney-Smith is more exciting on paper than he is on the actual basketball court.
Finney-Smith might be a more diverse shooter than Okoro but he connected on just 34.8% of his three-point attempts last season. A career 35.5% shooter, Finney-Smith isn’t exactly the flamethrowing presence the Cavs have been searching for on the wing. He made three unassisted three-point attempts last year — just one more than Okoro.
He’s not an excellent shot-creator, either. Over the last two seasons, Finney-Smith is shooting an overall 40.6% from the floor. He isn’t great at the rim or much of a connective playmaker. Finney-Smith averaged fewer assists than Okoro while playing more minutes.
Finney-Smith’s size is ideal for a Cavs team that lacks positional versatility. He could possibly start at small forward and even eat minutes as a backup four. This is the selling point for fans who are eager to see changes. However, Finney-Smith has recently struggled to showcase that versatility in a meaningful way.
Meanwhile, Okoro has stamped himself as an elite perimeter defender at 23 years old. He’s improved marginally as a three-point shooter each season and is quietly great at attacking in transition. His athleticism sets him apart, generating 1.27 points per possession on the break. A valuable NBA player is lurking in Okoro. Trading him for a 31-year-old veteran on the decline doesn’t seem like a winning move.
Samardo Samuels played three full seasons in his NBA career. All of which came in the wine and gold. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds during the dark ages of Cavs basketball, otherwise known as the 2010-2013 seasons.
Samuels was an old-fashioned ‘tweener. Meaning he was stuck between being a power forward and a true center. He lacked the height to play the five at just 6’9” (this was before the rise of small-ball) and didn’t possess the skills or agility to be a traditional four. Even a stunning 30-pound weight loss (after subtracting fried food from his diet) was not enough to extend Samuels’ NBA career.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Samuels went on to enjoy a successful international career — winning an Italian League championship in 2014 and becoming a Greek League All-Star in 2020.
Olympic men’s basketball today
