Cleveland Cavaliers Should Strongly Consider Trading Dion Waiters

The Cleveland Cavaliers are attempting to assemble their first championship team in franchise history. Unfortunately, the Cavs have had Syracuse‘s former sixth-man, Dion Waiters, starting for them on multiple occasions. This is not an adequate attribute to a championship roster.

In limited minutes, Waiters has shown he can shoot and score with NBA proficiency. He has held his own on the offensive end, but left much to desire not only defensively, but also altruistically — averaging a petty two assists per game. This is value the Cavaliers do not need. What they do need is someone that is not a redundant contributor to their offense, and it couldn’t hurt to get someone with playoff experience either. Perhaps it’s time they approached Mr. Allen.

No, not Ray Allen. Tony Allen.

Tony Allen is 32 and could have 2-3 good years left. If what we learned from the Miami Heat is any indication, 2-3 years is the exact length of the Cavaliers’ championship window. In an ideal world, the Cavs would forfeit Waiter’s youth and scoring ability, and potential to gain a defensive stopper in Allen. For the Cavaliers, it’d be well worth it. The Cavs are putting up 105 points per game, and would have no problem culling more offense from a post-Waiters roster.

Allen earns slightly more money per year ($5 million) than Waiters ($4.2 million), and has one more year on his contract (expiring in 2017), but that is negligible considering he can shut down three different positions on the floor.

The addition of Allen could also add miles to LeBron James, lifting some of the burden James would have to uphold on the defensive end, affording James the energy to be even more explosive come the playoffs. If the Memphis Grizzlies are inclined to the trade, then this is as perfect as it gets for Cleveland, and an ideal scenario that could get them the O’Brien trophy as early as June.

Want to win “just one” championship this time, LeBron? Then have Cleveland send Waiters to Memphis and ally yourself with Allen.

Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.