Live Thread: Cavs @ Thunder (#LikeIts2011)

In case you maybe missed it… the Cavaliers added a player this morning to fill the 15th spot on their active roster. The identity of this new player should bring back fond memories of the days leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft… and the heated debate (at least in some corners) over who former GM Chris Grant and the team should choose with the number one overall pick that year. It was an important decision to get right, since this player would very likely be the new face of the franchise to replace the departed LeBron James. In the end, the Cavs went for the Duke freshman point guard with the sick handles, Kyrie Irving, over the Arizona sophomore forward with the slash to the rim game, Derrick Williams. In hindsight, it was possibly the best decision Chris Grant ever made on a draft pick, as Kyrie has gone on to become an All-Star and helped lead the Cavs to their first championship… while Williams has suited up for four teams in the last five years, and has been unable to fully realize his potential.

Though they passed on Williams in 2011, he might just fit the bill for what the Cavs need in 2017… especially on the second night of a back-to-back where the team might have limited bodies in action against the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Granted, it’s just a 10-day deal, but given Lue’s rededication to trimming LBJ’s minutes as the season wears on, Williams should have a prime opportunity to eat up some time backing up the King while also reducing Richard Jefferson’s workload. He played just 25 games this season with the Miami Heat, averaging 5.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg in just 15 mpg, and had fallen out of their rotation in recent weeks before being waived last week. The Cavs probably hope he can recapture a bit of the success he had coming off the bench for the Knicks last season when he averaged 9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg in 17 mpg, shooting a career high 45%.

Despite Coach Lue indicating last night that he was thinking about resting his big three of LeBron, Kyrie and Kevin… it sounds like everyone will play in tonight’s nationally televised tilt with the Thunder on TNT…

Per Coach Lue, everyone's playing tonight in OKC. Guys are on a good roll and want to keep it going.

— Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG) February 9, 2017

It also sounds like Williams will be with the team and will be ready to go…

Derrick Williams is here and playing for the Cavs tonight. He'll wear 32 tonight, and then switch to 3, I'm told

— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) February 9, 2017

I don’t care what number he rocks… mainly because I can’t wait to start using his nickname (one of the best I’ve seen)… The Whole Enchilada from La Mirada.

With Williams in the fold (at least for the next 10 days), the Cavs now have three of the top four picks from the 2011 draft on their roster (Tristan Thompson was #4 that year in case you forgot). Even the third overall pick (Enes Kanter) should be in the building, although not on the floor as he’s still recovering from a broken arm suffered in a fight with a folding chair. Three other members of that draft class will also be represented with Iman Shumpert, DeAndre Liggins and Kyle Singler. It remains to be seen if Shump will suit up with his ankle sprain. If he doesn’t, then Lig will likely take his place again in the starting lineup at SG.

While it might be a surprise that the Cavs aren’t going to rest the big three, it’s not a surprise that they want to keep their win streak rolling (they haven’t swept a road trip of four or more games since December of 1994 according to Elias Sports Bureau). In an odd twist on the Thunder side of things, they actually have to resist the urge to look past the visiting NBA Champions, since they will host their former teammate, Kevin Durant, and the runner up Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

It should be another fun one, as both teams can light up the scoreboard and stuff the stat sheet, and the Thunder (if they can keep their minds off of KD’s return) should be looking for a bit of revenge after getting blown out in Cleveland a week ago.

Prediction: In honor of the draft class of 2011… Cavs sweep the roadie 120-111.

Catch all the action on TNT (twice in one week!) at 8pm EST (5pm PST).