Last year, the midseason acquisitions of Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert, and J.R. Smith helped send the Cleveland Cavaliers over the top and propel them to an NBA Finals berth. Now this season, they may have their eyes on a similar-type target: Wizards forward Jared Dudley.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN on his “Hey Windy” podcast Friday, the Cavs “would love to get their hands on” Dudley. Windhorst also mentions that the team “kicked around trading for” the veteran swingman last summer.
Dudley, 30, is averaging 8.8 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game for Washington this season. He is a versatile combo forward that can space the floor and feature prominently in small-ball lineups, which could help explain Cleveland’s interest in him. A career 40.1 percent shooter from deep as well, Dudley has earned a reputation as a capable 3-and-D wing.
Dudley’s upside has never been all that high during any point of his nine-year NBA career thus far. But fortunately for the Cavs, that means they might not have to give up any substantial assets in order to land him.
As such, the Boston College product seems like exactly the type of marginal upgrade the Cavs need to make to their rotation to stay atop a rapidly-improving Eastern Conference.
Image Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
