Isaiah Thomas‘ return has had its highlights and lowlights. His season began with an efficient 17-point showing, but he followed up his Cavaliers debut by making just four of his next 22 shots from behind the arc. Thomas is shooting 39.1% from the field since putting on a Cavs uniform and it’s clear that he’s not 100% recovered from his hip injury. 
IT’s presence on the court has caused Kevin Love‘s fantasy stock to take a hit. The power forward is scoring 1.27 points per possession and has a 26.6% usage rate when Thomas is not on the floor this season, per NBAWowy. When the two players share the floor, Love’s numbers drop to 1.07 and 19.2%, respectively.
Cleveland is sliding down the standings and one would think the duo’s struggles on defense may force the team to send Thomas to the bench in order to stagger their minutes. That’s not happening yet — for now, Jae Crowder is the only player being pulled from the starting lineup by coach Tyronn Lue. Love will shift to power forward, and as long as he continues to share the court with the ball-dominant point guard, I’m not confident that Love’s fantasy stock will improve in the immediate future.
The potential addition of George Hill, who remains a fantasy asset despite Sacramento’s odd veteran rest plan, could push Thomas to the bench, though the deal to acquire him is far from a sure thing. Hill hasn’t been good on defense this season, but he has shown in the past that he’s more than capable of being a plus defender. He’s also not a player who needs the ball to make an impact, so he would mesh well with Love.
Again, the Hill trade is not imminent. Cleveland is looking to get better defensively either by making internal changes or by acquiring a defensive-minded player like Hill or DeAndre Jordan. An improved defense would mean fewer offensive possessions for everyone on the team and that might counteract any boost that Love gets from a reduction in court time with IT.
Of course, reports that Love was a target during a tense team meeting are also worth considering, though it sounds like he was far from the only Cav who was questioned behind closed doors. If there’s more to the rumors than the team is letting on, the Cavs could ostensibly demote Love to the bench and reduce his minutes — or they could deal him. A Love trade appears very unlikely at the moment, as does a demotion to the pine, but this has been another peculiar season for Cleveland. Would anything short of a LeBron James trade really be that surprising?
- The Jazz are reportedly among the teams that have shown interest in Willy Hernangomez, and if the Knicks deal him to Utah or any team, his stock would drastically rise. Pick him up now as a speculative stash, as the trade deadline is less than two weeks away.
- Pick up Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell. In the five games DeAndre Jordan missed, the Louisville product put up 15.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 58.7% from the field. Jordan, who has been the subject of trade rumors, returned on Thursday and Harrell remained productive, knocking down four of seven shots while grabbing seven rebounds.
- If Dejounte Murray is somehow available, as he is in over 64% of ESPN leagues, scoop him up. He’s the Spurs‘ new starting point guard and has the potential to produce top results every night, as he did in his 19-point, 7-steal, 10-rebound performance against the Cavs earlier this week.
Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.
Missed an earlier edition of Fantasy Hoops? Check out the entire series here.
Statistics are current through Friday morning. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They’d be winning more games if they would coddle LeBron’s ego a little more.
It’s too late to trade LeBron. If he’s leaving, he should have let them like the Pacers getting Oladipo and Sabonis. Now they’ll lose LeBron and Love in next 2 offseasons and get nothing.
For the LeBron-MJ GOAT debate, see ESPN “Brady vs. MJ, greatest GOAT” article. MJ is greatest American male athlete of all time!!! Sorry LBJ!
Didn’t know Lyndon B Johnson played sports lol
Saw on Pawn Stars a guy brought in a golf ball once President Johnson had hit him with!
So where should James be ranked in your ESPN-informed opinion?
The Love inquisition was led by Isaiah T, who is not popular, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in it. Indeed the result of that meeting was that Love was returned to his preferred position at the 4. The switch was certainly not done for any appreciation of TT’s play, which is still not up to par. Also the most important switches are at guard. Love is obviously appreciated by the club, including James who defends and defended him, if not by newbie IT. It would be wiser not to sell Fantasy Love.
You have such a short memory it’s not worth discussing. In just the past few days this site reported what I’ve told you many times, Love was included going to Denver in the Paul George trade. The fans layed into Love on media for poor shooting. I already know. I don’t remember that, I made it up. Your sick. My time will come when LeBron leaves this year, and Love next. I know references. You don’t deserve any because you are a LeBron worshiper. Read it yourself! Love is seeing a Playboy plamate and lives in L.A. That’s a fact. With LeBron gone, why would he stay? I said you can’t believe everything. I was talking about Brian Windhorst, ie a George Hill trade is imminent, not!
I’m a Pacer fan. Pacer fans don’t like LeBron. The Pacers got Oladipo and Sabonis. The Cavs will get nothing for LeBron and Love. After Love is gone they’ll be as bad as before.
I know Griffin had at least one Love trade lined up. It’s a common story that I have not disputed. You can’t think of anything wrong I have said so you just pick random facts.
One does not need to be a worshipper to argue with an irrational hater.
BTW it was Thomas who set upon Love not some racist Lebron plot. Smith turned it back on IT.
The rest of that post was incoherent.
BTW When I said I’ll be laughing my a-s off when LeBron and Love leave is I’ll be laughing at you for being so self opinionated,narrow minded and not being able to accept the truth. I take you as a young punk kid! Later dude. I’m out for good!!
Unfortunately you’re not going anywhere crazyman. You’ve said that before and here you are. Can’t control your fingers I guess.
You are no expert on the Cavs, you’re a snake in the grass. You think there is some LJ-led racist plot against Love. I would rather be an LJ worshipper than a stephen smith worshipper. Even he would think that’s pathetic… He knows he’s playing a ratings game and you don’t.