Cleveland Cavaliers: Jordan McRae Deserves More Minutes
After losing Matthew Dellavedova to the Milwaukee Bucks during free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to find a productive facilitator to make an impact off the bench. Jordan McRae could change that if given an opportunity.
The Cleveland Cavaliers do not struggle putting the ball in the basket. As a team they rank fourth in the association in scoring with an average of 110.4 points per game. Most of those points, 71.1 points to be exact, come from the trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
Despite positive production from their starting lineup, the Cavaliers bench unit has not been able to help carry any of the offensive load so far this season.
Currently, as a unit, Cleveland’s bench ranks 26th in the league when it comes to scoring, putting up just 16.3 points per game. Although it has not affected the team thus far, as they are 19-6 and in first place of the Eastern Conference, it could become more of a problem as the season wears on.
This leaves the Cavaliers with two options: bring in a player through trade or free agency, or promote from within. Knowing the team does not have many trade options and that they can’t sign a new player with the roster is full, giving Jordan McRae a chance makes the most sense. McRae, who is currently 25 years old, has appeared in 16 games for the Cavs this season and is averaging 3.4 points per game.
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Although he has not seen much playing time through 25 games, McRae has proven in the past that he can put the ball in the basket at a high rate.
Before coming to Cleveland during the 2015-16 season, McRae spent time in the NBA Developmental League (D-League) with the Delaware 87ers. In 29 games with the 87ers, the University of Tennessee product averaged 23.3 points, 5.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He also set a NBA D-League single-game scoring record of 61 points in a 130-123 loss to the Canton Charge.
Since signing with the Cavaliers, McRae has not seen consistent playing time but has shown flashes of what a team could do with his fulfilled potential during the time he has been on the court. During the final game of the 2015-16 campaign, McRae was given an opportunity to start, and he went off for 37 points and seven assists.
Interestingly, he hasn’t seen extended playing time since then.
Although he is not a consistent spot-up shooter, which may be concerning for the Cavaliers since they like to spread the floor as much as possible, McRae is at his best offensively when he can create off the dribble. However, having a player who can create shots for himself inside the arc could be useful for a Cavaliers team that takes the second fewest two-point field goals per game with 49.1.
Increasing McRae’s minutes would also give veterans such as Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Richard Jefferson, both of whom turned 36 years old this year, more time to rest. If resting the 31-year-old James, 28-year old Love and 24-year-old Irving will help them prepare them for the playoffs, it’ll certainly help two 36-year-old perimeter players.
Jefferson proved to be a key factor to the Cavaliers championship run last season, so keeping him ready for the playoffs would be beneficial for Tyronn Lue and company.
McRae would be joining a bench unit that has reliable shooters such as Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye, who both rank in the top 15 in three-point field goal percentage. With his tendency to drive the ball to the rim, it would clear space for shooters on the perimeter to get open shots on a consistent basis.
Summarily, increasing McRae’s minutes would benefit for the Cavaliers. Not only does it give them a scoring presence off the bench but it also gives veterans a chance to rest for another championship run.
What do you think about Jordan McRae being in the Cleveland Cavaliers rotation? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.
