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CLEVELAND – According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers have extended a contract offer to CSKA Moscow shooting guard, Alexey Shved.
Shved, a 6’6, 186-pound shooting guard from Russia, has been linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies. The 23-year-old Shved would average 10 points and three assists in 22 games for CSKA Moscow.
Shved is currently with the Russian national basketball team, playing in their Olympic qualifying tournament games in Venezuela.
Shved would shoot 45.6 percent from the floor, make 37.1 percent of his shots from three-point range and shoot 77.2 percent from the free-throw line in 22.1 minutes. If Cleveland does manage to land Shved, he would most likely be used as a backup to starting point guard Kyrie Irving and projected starter at shooting guard, Dion Waiters.
With a game comparable to Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns, Shved can effectively play the pick-and-roll and operate in the open floor.
At 6’5, Shved has great size that will translate into the NBA and unlike most European players, has the ability to create his own shot.
If there is a weakness in Shved’s game it would be due to his thin frame.
Much like 2012 NBA first round draft choice, Jeremy Lamb of the Houston Rockets, Shved will need to bulk up to around 195-200 pounds to be able to effectively contain the NBA’s faster and more stronger shooting guards.
Shved’s inability to guard on isolation plays and sub-average wingspan of 6’4 will make him a liability on defense in the NBA.
Despite these minor weaknesses, Shved has all the tools to be a real steal in free agency and provide a much-needed spark in the Cavaliers shooting game in 2012-13.
Robert D. Cobb is the NBA Network Manager for Rant Media Network, Featured Writer of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Featured Columnist for the Cleveland Browns and Arsenal Gunners.
In addition to covering the NBA, I also cover MLB, NFL, NHL and Champions League soccer news, rumors and opinions, please follow me on Twitter at @RobertCobb_76
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