According to a report from ESPN’s Marc Stein on Saturday, the Cavaliers are interested in acquiring Shelvin Mack or Jameer Nelson to shore up their back up point guard position.
Per @ESPNSteinLine
Report: Cavs' Targets Include Jameer Nelson, Shelvin Mack – https://t.co/O5isYHho9M pic.twitter.com/2vPb4NqnGE
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Stein noted that the Jazz reserve guard Shelvin Mack is “definitely available” in trade talks. The Cavs would be able to fit him in under their cap with their $4.4 million trade exception from the three-team trade before the 2016 trade deadline that sent Varejao to the Blazers (who waived him) and landed the Cavs Channing Frye.
Mack performed really well late in the 2015-16 season with increased opportunity for the Jazz and is averaging 7.9 points and 2.9 assists per game this season on 44 percent shooting.
In order for the Cavs to acquire veteran point guard Jameer Nelson from the Nuggets, they would have to use the $4.8 million trade exception from the Kyle Korver trade to work in Nelson’s $4.5 million salary.
Nelson has averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 assists for the Nuggets this season on 45 percent shooting.
Either acquisition would go a long way for a Cavs team currently playing inexperienced DeAndre Liggins and Kay Felder as their back up point guard role and would provide the third playmaker and table setter LeBron is looking for.
Mack may be the slightly better defensive option and longer-term option but Nelson seems like the perfect veteran and experienced leader who could have a few important moments for the Cavs in another long playoff run.
If GM LeBron has anything to say about it, one of these two guards will be donning a Cavaliers uniform soon.
