The Cleveland Cavaliers are the top team in the Eastern Conference and are playing great, but it seems like they aim to have a better roster targeting Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley before the trade deadline.
National Basketball Association (NBA) analyst Brian Windhorst said on Hey Windy on ESPN Cleveland that the Cavs are interested in Dudley.
Windhorst mentioned that Dudley is shooting great this season (40 percent from three-point area), is a quality defensive player and locker room guy, who is on the last year of his existing contract.
Because of the Wizards' current state this season, a team struggling to remain consistent and win enough to contend for the playoffs, they might get the urge to deal away Dudley.
But Windhorst also said that the Wizards are unlikely to ship Dudley to another team because he is "valuable" to them and they are aiming to make a run in the second half of the season.
Dudley is in his first year with Washington after spending the 2014–15 season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 48 games played this season (31 starts), the 30-year-old is averaging 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and one steal in 28.7 minutes of action per outing.
The former first round pick is an all-around player and in his NBA career has proven that he is a reliable contributor.
If Dudley joins the Cavaliers, he can provide quality minutes which allows franchise superstar LeBron James to have more rest during games.
But as the postseason nears, teams are likely going forward with their present core to have less chances of ruining the chemistry they had since the season opened.
Dudley and the Wizards are 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 22–27 record, while the Cavaliers are ahead of them by 13.5 games, leading the conference with their 36–14 record.
