Despite the effects of the luxury tax on even veteran minimum signings, it looks like the Cleveland Cavaliers might still in the business of adding players, turning their sights to Tayshaun Prince.
The Cavaliers haven’t made big additions this summer, but they didn’t really have to. It’s been more about keeping the team that made the finals together (re-signing LeBron James, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, Timofey Mozgov James Jones and Matthew Dellavedova) while adding pieces to help with depth and specific issues, bringing in Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson.
While there are negotiations going on with Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith, both giving the Cavaliers a hard time with their salary demands, they Cavs turn to Prince, who played last season for three teams: The Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, and has been in the NBA since 2002, most of that time in Detroit, winning one NBA championship and losing in the finals once as well.
Prince averaged 7.5 points per game last season in just 24 minutes a night, while shooting 46.3% from beyond the arc. That’s a bit higher than his career numbers in terms of outside shooting (37% for his career) but he’s another player who can stretch the floor, has experience and isn’t a bad defender at all, although he’s not at the level (All-defensive player) he was a few years ago.
Part of the plan is to allow James more rest during the regular season when the situation allows it. While Jefferson helps in that regard, Prince isn’t a bad option either, especially when there’s more and more small ball lineups intended for games, and Prince can also play the power forward which he did more than ever before last season.