Live Thread: Cavs @ Mavs

The Cavs are making moves again for the first time since the Brendan Haywood, Mike Miller trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that resulted in sizable trade exceptions. According to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com, the Cavs sent Smokin Joe Harris, cash, and a 2017 protected second round pick from the Sacramento Kings to the Magic. Orlando is giving the Cavs a 2020 second round pick, which originally belonged to the Portland Trail Blazers. Haynes also mentioned these key details:

The deal will save Cleveland approximately $3 million in luxury tax payments and open up a roster spot.

For players who obtain a buyout, Cleveland would have room.

The Cavs play the fourth game of their six game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks tonight. The Mavs have been a surprising team this season. They are currently in fifth in the West with 22 wins. After losing Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis in free agency during the off-season, many people thought they would fall out of the playoffs. However, they replaced those two with Zaza Pachulia and Wes Matthews and haven’t looked back since.

The Mavericks are posting a net rating of 1.7, which is 11th in the league, and Dirk Nowitzki is still playing at a very high level, despite being 37 years old. The German is grabbing 6.7 boards a night to go with 17.7 points. He’s hitting 39.2% of his threes this season. Kevin Love will have his hands full, as he tries to stick to every single Dirk screen without giving up an easy driving lane to the basket.

The Mavs are 3-3 for the month of January, but this veteran team is the only team to beat the Warriors besides the Bucks. They know how to capitlize on every little mistake a defense makes. If there’s a lane to the hoop or an open shot, they will take advantage of it.

Three Things To Watch

1. The Cavs have trouble making multiple rotations down low. As Dirk pulls Kevin Love away from the hoop by setting screens, will Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov be able to slow the Mavs’ ball handlers down so the Cavaliers’ guards can stay in plays? If they can’t, the Cavaliers’ bigs will fall victim to easy dump offs down low, as the they have to commit to driving Dallas guards at the rim.
2. Kyrie Irving scored just eight points against the 76ers and took 15 shots. He needs to show up tonight against Deron Williams and J.J. Barea.
3. LeBron scored 37 points against the 76ers and hit three of his five threes. The 76ers couldn’t sag off of him at the three line. If the King can continue shooting 57.8% from the field like he has during his previous six games, the Mavericks are in for a tough game. Otherwise, they can sag off of him and give him all the shots he wants, much like they did in the 2011 Finals.

Mo Williams will miss the game tonight to deal with some family issues.