Cleveland Cavaliers: Final Grades

The 2015-2016 NBA season has come and gone, and THE Cleveland Cavaliers are your reigning NBA Champions. Let’s say it again, THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ARE YOUR REIGNING NBA CHAMPIONS. With the celebrations slowing to a dull roar, now seemed like a good time to hand out Final Grades for each member of the Cavaliers. It’s been a heck of a ride, so let’s take one more look back at the team we will never forget.

Matthew Dellavedova

Delly did an excellent job as the Cavaliers’ primary backup point guard this season, and was on of the team’s leaders in plus minus. His strengths of defense, three point shooting, and a terrific assist-to-turnover ratio were exactly what the team needed from a player in his position. This offseason, Dellavedova agreed to a four-year $38 million dollar contract from the Milwaukee Bucks early in free agency that the Cavaliers decided not to match. This is surprising, but he did struggle after the All-Star break, shooting just 37.3% from the floor in 30 regular season games, and gradually losing time throughout the playoffs until he fell out of the rotation entirely in the Finals. Still, Dellavedova has beaten the odds as an undrafted player who became an NBA Champion and was signed to a relatively large contract. His effort and heady play will be missed.

Final Grade: MP. Despite his critics and rough Finals, Dellavedova is a more than passible backup point guard, and he was more than fairly paid this summer.

Channing Frye

After starting out hotter than molten lava upon joining the Cavaliers, Frye inevitably cooled off toward the end of the regular season. He was in and out of the rotation during the playoffs, but dropped 27 points on the Atlanta Hawks in the second round, essentially carrying the Cavaliers to victory. In addition to his work on the court, Frye was said to be a critical part of improving the team’s camaraderie off the court, and he’s also under contract for the next two seasons at what is now well below market value.

Final Grade: F. Not for failure, but for fit. Frye has been a terrific fit both on and off the court since joining the Cavaliers. 

Kyrie Irving

After a lackluster regular season coming off an injury, the whispers regarding Irving’s play grew louder. He was a ball hog. He couldn’t defend. He put up empty stats instead of helping his team win. There were times throughout the playoffs, and even in the Finals, that these thoughts seemed more fact than opinion. Irving quieted his critics by averaging 27 points in the Finals—including a 41 point effort in Game Five—and hitting the biggest shot in Cavaliers history. He also showed that he could defend at acceptable levels when he put him mind to it. Irving has never been afraid of the moment, and this year he showed that he can help lead his team to a championship.

Final Grade: N. As in Not Afraid of the Moment. Fans and the media constantly debate Irving’s worth as a player, but there’s no doubt that he thrives on a big stage.

LeBron James

All James did was reclaim his spot as the best player in the league. After a torrid finish to the regular season, James was an absolute monster in the playoffs, averaging 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game… It boggles the mind just to read that line. James had a playoff PER of 30 or higher for the fourth time in his career, and led the NBA in playoff win shares, box plus-minus, and VORP. He also served as the Cavaliers’ primary rim protector, and in doing so also delivered the signature play of his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N11oeH0Ihgg

Final Grade: G. As in the greatest Cleveland athlete of my lifetime, and possibly ever. Is there really anything else to say?

Richard Jefferson

Jefferson was solid for the Cavaliers in the regular season, but took it to another level completely in the postseason, when he shot 52.4% from the floor while starting Games Three and Four of the Finals. Jefferson was a great fit for the Cavaliers as a Shane Battier-type player who could stretch the floor while also guarding the forwards LeBron didn’t want to. Perhaps most importantly, he has introduced the world to Lil’ Kev via his amazing Snapchat account.

Final Grade: E. Jefferson gave the Cavaliers everything they could have hoped for this season, and likely exceeded their hopes in the playoffs. At 36, he has agreed a two-year deal to return to the Cavaliers. While there is some risk, his play last year more than justifies the length of the contract. 

Dahntay Jones

When a player like Dahntay Jones is signed on the last day of the regular season, teams just hope for professionalism in the locker room and someone who won’t be overwhelmed on the court if they are unexpectedly needed. Well, Jones was called upon, and boy did he deliver, scoring five points and drawing to fouls on Draymond Green to close out the first of half of Game Six of the NBA Finals. While he’s still under contract with the Cavaliers, it’s difficult to envision Jones on the roster next year with the addition of Mike Dunleavy Jr. No matter what happens, Jones will always have a place in Cavalier lore.

Final Grade: S. There no doubt that Jones’s performance in the Finals was a surprise, and what a great surprise it was. 

James Jones

Jones played just 55 minutes in the postseason, all of those in garbage time. While he still can shoot, hitting 39.4% from three in the regular season, Jones’s days as anything more than an end of the bench player are likely over. Still, if Jones wants to return next season, the Cavaliers will have a spot for him. The man is practically worshipped by his teammates, as Kevin Love would be the first to tell you.

Those of you who know Champ will appreciate this…

I’d like to tribute the best teammate I've… https://t.co/VELCPMqqxY

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 26, 2016

Final Grade: R. Whether it’s for respected, or even revered, the man called Champ by his teammates was an absolutely critical part of the Cavaliers’ locker room, even as his impact on the court diminished.

Sasha Kaun

Kaun was a fixture at the end of the Cavaliers’ bench this season, appearing in just 25 games and none in the postseason. He seemed to be respected as a teammate and will likely be back next year as depth in the front court.

Final Grade: V. For variables. Kaun could be the Cavaliers’ fourth big man next season, or he could remain glued to the bench.. He could also be included in a trade. Anything is possible. 

Kevin Love

The ups and downs continued for Love until the end of the 2015-2016 season. Despite averaging 16 points and 9.9 rebounds in the regular season, as well as 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in the playoffs, there were still questions about Love’s consistency, fit on the team, and even his heart. For some, the concerns remain on the first two points, but Love has more than answered the final one. Against a Golden State Warriors team that was admittedly a bad matchup for him, Love had an impactful Game Seven, pulling down 14 rebounds, leading the Cavaliers in plus-minus, and played the best defense of his life when it mattered most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbMS1rcaNR0

Final Grade: C. As in champ. Arguably no Cavalier has been more criticized over the last two seasons than Love, but he now has a championship ring to flash in the faces of those critics.

Jordan McRae

McRae didn’t play much for the Cavaliers in the postseason, appearing in just two games for a total of four minutes. His biggest moment was undoubtedly the last game of the regular season, when he scored a career-high 36 points to go along with four rebounds and seven assists in an overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Cavaliers saw enough in McRae to exercise the option on his contract for next season, but he has a lot of work to do to earn any meaningful playing time, let alone factor into the team’s future.

Final Grade: Y. McRae is the only unproven young player on a team with many veterans. The Cavaliers would love to see him develop into a rotation player, but they’re certainly no betting on it. 

Timofey Mozgov

After struggling throughout the regular season, Mozgov lost his starting job just before the playoffs began, and was soon out of the rotation entirely. He did have some nice moments in brief appearances during the playoffs, and didn’t let his demotion prevent him from being a great teammate throughout. The best news for Mozgov may have come this summer, when he signed a four-year $64 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a bit of a surprise considering his struggles throughout the season.

Final Grade: P. Mozgov got paid a lot of money by the Lakers, even if he didn’t do much to earn it this season.

Iman Shumpert

After not being able to throw the ball into the ocean during the regular season, Shumpert somewhat found his shot during the playoffs, shooting 38.2% from three. He had his moments on both sides of the ball in the postseason, but still had an assist-to-turnover ratio just over 1:1 and the Cavaliers were typically much worse when he was on the floor.

Final Grade: O. As in offense needed. Shumpert needs to stop hijacking the offense and focus on hitting corner threes. If he can do that along with playing his usually good defense, then he will more than earn the money the Cavaliers have given him.

J.R. Smith

A year ago, Smith was coming off a playoff run in which he played well in the first three rounds, only to fall apart in the Finals. With Love and Irving out with injuries, the Warriors focused on taking Smith out of the game and were tremendously successful doing so. This year, in his natural spot as the Cavaliers’ fourth option, Smith was able to play his role of floor spacer more effectively, and also had a solid impact on the defensive end. Once considered a tax for acquiring Iman Shumpert, Smith has become an indispensable part of the team’s core.

Final Grade: S. For Swish of course! Two years ago, who would have imagined that J.R. Smith would find his basketball nirvana as a terrific floor spacer and emerging 3-and-D player for the Cavaliers?

Tristan Thompson

Remember when people complained about Thompson signing a five-year $82 million dollar contract? No one was saying a thing when Thompson had a terrific series in the Finals, shooting 63.6% from the field, and averaging 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, while playing stellar defense all over the floor. The iron man of the NBA is the perfect compliment to the Cavaliers’ Big Three, a hustle player and elite rebounder who comes to work every single day.

Final Grade: V. Thompson is likely more valuable to the Cavaliers than he would be for almost any other team, but they wouldn’t have one the title without him.

Mo Williams

Williams seemingly became an afterthought for the Cavaliers, playing in only seven regular season games after the All-Star break, and averaging just 8.7 minutes during that stretch. He played in 13 of the Cavaliers’ 21 playoff games, but mostly saw action in garbage time. Them came Games Six and Seven of the Finals, when Tyronn Lue surprisingly went with Williams ahead of Matthew Dellavedova at backup point guard. Williams only played 11 minutes in the two games combined—and didn’t do anything remarkable during that time—but he played well enough at both ends to keep the Cavaliers from falling apart while Kyrie Irving rested. Considering the knee issues and lack of playing time Williams faced in the second half of the season, it was everything the Cavaliers could have asked for and more.

Final Grade: C. For Clutch. That has never been Mo’s reputation, but he came through with solid minutes when the Cavaliers really needed him.

Even now, the Cavaliers have begun to look towards defending their championship next season. Dellavedova and Mozgov are gone, while Mike Dunleavy Jr. has been acquired from the Chicago Bulls. The Golden State Warriors have upped the ante by signing Kevin Durant, and look to be the favorites to win the championship going into next season. They may be the favorites, but one thing they are not is champions, at least not right now. That honor belongs to the 2015-2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that ended 52 years of waiting and misery. A team we will never forget.