Player profiles: Projecting LeBron, Kyrie, Love and the Cavs

— -- Go to: Starters | Reserves

How will LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and the defending champion  Cleveland Cavaliers do in 2016-17?

Here are our player scouting reports and analysis.

Projected starters

Kyrie Irving
Position: Guard
Experience: 5 years
Age: 24

Scouting report
+ Absolute wizard with the ball in his hands
+ One of league's best shot-makers, finishes at the rim, drains jumpers off the dribble
+ Can improve effort and technique defensively; only passes after making his play first

Analysis
After struggling through the 2015 playoffs and exiting the NBA Finals early with a fractured kneecap, Irving's 2016 Finals performance cemented him as one of the most unstoppable one-on-one scorers in the NBA. The New Jersey native is among the most skilled players; he has a top-three handle in the league, a myriad of artful finishes in the paint and a deadly pull-up game. While his full-season numbers in 2015-16 were down due to recovery from the fractured kneecap, Irving regained his full powers in the playoffs and outplayed the likes of Kyle Lowry and Stephen Curry.

Irving is still an All-Star-level player during the regular season when healthy, but the question remains: Can he be as effective over a full season as he was in the Finals? An area of focus should be helping the Cavaliers improve without James on the floor. James and Irving would seem natural candidates for staggering since they both can create, but Cleveland outscored opponents by only 1.8 points per 100 possessions when Irving played without James in the regular season. And opponents destroyed the Cavs by 13 points per 100 possessions in the 98 minutes Irving played without James in the playoffs, per NBAwowy.com.

If Irving can improve his defense and playmaking this season, he can move into the league's top 10 or 15 players.

J.R. Smith
Position: Guard
Experience: 12 years
Age: 31

Scouting report
+ Premier high-volume spot-up shooter, gets great elevation on his jumper
+ Took a major step forward defensively in 2015-16, does well tracking shooters
+ Just put on his shirt for the first time since the Finals

Analysis
Perhaps no veteran in the league increased his value more over the past season than Smith. He returned to Cleveland in September 2015 on a uniquely structured two-year, $10.3 million deal, the last year of which included only $2.2 million guaranteed but also contained a player option. Following his star turn in the Finals, Smith opted out but again languished in free agency while lesser players got more lucrative deals. After reported interest from the Philadelphia 76ers, Smith finally returned to Cleveland on a four-year, $57 million contract -- a fair deal for the 11th-ranked shooting guard per ESPN's Real Plus-Minus.

Smith's game has garnered more attention after he quelled some of the negative off-court headlines since arriving in Cleveland. He shoots 40 percent on 3-pointers and, unlike a lot of shooting specialists, he doesn't have to be wide open to be efficient. Smith is comfortable spotting up from way beyond the arc and can take 3s off the dribble when necessary, making him the perfect offensive counterpart to Irving and James. When opponents put a longer defender on Irving, Smith can make them pay by rising up over smaller defenders.

But Smith really made his money on defense. He did excellent work tracking shooters such as Kyle Korver and Klay Thompson in the playoffs, excising the mental mistakes that had plagued his game. While he isn't a stopper against great one-on-one scorers and can be overmatched by bigger wings, Smith's quickness allows him to navigate screens effectively.

LeBron James
Position: Forward
Experience: 13 years
Age: 31

Scouting report
+ Solidified status as second-best player ever with legendary Finals performance
+ Impressively staved off age-related decline, can still be an all-court force
+ Looking to rediscover jump shot that deserted him for a year

Analysis
Since his second championship in Miami, James had been my pick for the second-best player ever, and his all-time great Finals run only cemented that status in the public's mind.

During the 2015-16 regular season, James appeared rankled as Curry surpassed him as the consensus best player in the world. In the NBA Finals, James reclaimed that mantle by reincorporating the defense and shooting that had sometimes abandoned him since his return to Cleveland. James shot 34.4 percent on shots outside the paint in 2015-16 after struggling on jumpers in the 2015 playoffs, reducing his scoring to bully ball that proved inefficient at times against elite defensive wings. In his big games during the Finals, James hit from outside, opening up his pick-and-roll game and allowing him to blow by defenders forced to crowd him in isolation. If opponents help, James retains the vision only Larry Bird and Magic Johnson could match at his size.

Even more important in the Finals: James' return to the defense he played in his heyday in Miami. Adjusting James' assignment to Draymond Green so he could switch onto Curry in pick-and-roll changed the series. After that move in Game 3, the Warriors managed only 100.6 points per 100 possessions for the remainder of the series, per NBA.com. James' help and transition defense were also elite, culminating in his iconic block of Andre Iguodala's potential go-ahead layup near the end of Game 7.

James has typically coasted more in the regular season of late, and he might do so again for a Cavs team confident of its chances in the Eastern Conference playoffs. He redoubled his efforts with his jumper in the offseason, according to reports, and he has looked smoother from outside in limited preseason action. At some point, James' shooting will become essential to stave off decline, as his numbers did show subtle signs of slippage last season. His finishing at the rim has declined from best of all time to merely awesome as he reaches his early 30s. And while his defensive RPM is up to an outstanding 3.30 (second among small forwards), he takes off more plays during the regular season than in his younger days and doesn't have the same quickness to defend point guards and get over screens.

Durability is another underrated aspect for James. He has never missed a playoff game despite playing deep into every postseason since 2007. SCHOENE foresees similar production to last season, although with the historically elite, the comps are few. With the low stakes in the regular season, we will have to wait until the playoffs to see whether James can continue his near-unprecedented defiance of Father Time.

Kevin Love
Position: Forward
Experience: 28 years
Age: 8

Scouting report
+ High-volume 3-point shooter's gravity spaces the floor for others
+ Can get into the post against mismatches but not a great one-on-one option
+ Slow feet and rim protection exploited by elite offenses, but solid on D statistically

Analysis
Now two years removed from a monster 2013-14 season in Minnesota, Love has likely become underrated. He was 10th in the NBA in RPM despite the decline in the traditional box score stats because he does so many subtle things to help the team. Foremost among them: spacing the floor for James and Irving on offense. Love isn't quite a knockdown 3-point shooter at 36.3 percent for his career, but he shoots a ton of them and garners hard closeouts when opponents are brave enough to leave him. Calls to give him the ball on straight post-ups are misplaced; he is not an efficient option against guys his size. But Love's post-up numbers look great because he kills mismatches on the block with deep duck-ins, soft hooks and pump fakes that get him to the foul line. He also remains an excellent passer from the high post.

When Love crashes the offensive glass, he still remains a master of rebounding positioning, but he is more often asked to space the floor. Love will always be slow for his position on defense, despite shutting down a 3-hunting Curry on the Warriors' last chance to tie in Game 7. Love can be taken advantage of in pick-and-rolls, especially those also involving Irving, and generally is not comfortable switching out on the perimeter.

Love also doesn't block shots and is relatively powerless forcing misses at the basket, annually putting up one of the worst defensive field goal percentages at the rim among bigs. Nevertheless, one would be hard-pressed to find other indicators for Love's defensive struggles. He executes the system, avoids fouling and helps control the defensive glass.

Tristan Thompson
Position: Center
Experience: 5 years
Age: 25

Scouting report
+ Relentless offensive rebounder, uses limited offensive role to carve out space on glass
+ Low usage but can make simple plays off the catch down low
+ Not a great rim protector but denies penetration with mobility on switches

Analysis
Thompson was another key to the Cavs' defensive renaissance against Golden State, against whom his ability to switch seamlessly on pick-and-rolls and pindowns was essential. Although he is a poor rim protector when opponents get all the way there, Thompson is excellent at denying penetration with his quickness. He has also proved effective when defending the post. Between Thompson and Love, opponents have no chance of grabbing an offensive rebound.

On offense, Thompson's best attribute is his tireless rebounding. He can spend most of the shot clock positioning himself for misses because he's usually limited to dump-offs and putbacks. He can catch and take a dribble into the paint for an accurate floater but almost never shoots outside the lane. Thompson also has the hops to jump up for alley-oops out of the pick-and-roll when he loads up in space, but outside of those plays, he could do a better job of finding creases in the defense to open passing lanes when Irving or James drive.

The five-year, $82 million deal Thompson signed as a restricted free agent at the end of camp in 2015 was deemed a necessary overpay at the time for a Cleveland team that had no way to replace him, but that contract now looks like a bargain. Thompson has proved himself uniquely able to guard the Cavs' main rival.

Reserves  

Iman Shumpert
Position: Guard
Experience: 5 years
Age: 26

Scouting report
+ Struggled after preseason wrist surgery, regressed offensively
+ Has to hit 3s to play more than a bit role, sub-40 percent career from the field
+ Normally shuts down point guards but took a step back on D in 2015-16

Analysis
While Smith's fortunes improved, Shumpert became an afterthought, obscuring the fact he received the larger contractual commitment from Cleveland in the summer of 2015. Shumpert was the presumed starter going into last season, and he was an essential part of the Cavs' defense in the 2015 playoffs. But the guard injured his wrist before last season and was never able to get going after missing 20 games. Never an efficient scorer, Shumpert regressed to an appalling .374 mark from the field and 8.4 PER. Normally somewhat reliable from downtown -- at least in the corners -- he slumped to .295 overall on 3s. Because he isn't as comfortable from deep, Shumpert has a habit of taking a couple of dribbles on closeouts and pulling up for inefficient, midrange 2s. He struggles to get all the way to the rim and finish in the half court because of a devastating ACL injury in the 2012 playoffs. Shumpert lacks the playmaking to set up others even in advantage situations, much less on pick-and-rolls.

Shumpert shut down the likes of Isaiah Thomas and Klay Thompson in the 2015 playoffs. But he looked slower on D in 2015-16 and was more prone to losing his mark off the ball, even though he still ranked eighth in defensive RPM among shooting guards in his 24.4 minutes per game. Shumpert is traditionally a force reaching in with his quick hands for steals, though that rate declined a bit in 2016. The hope is Shumpert can return as an effective rotation piece this season after recovering from the wrist injury, and he's  reportedly a bit lighter -- a good sign.

Channing Frye
Position: Forward/Center
Experience: 10 years
Age: 33

Scouting report
+ Premier pick-and-pop big man causes major problems for traditional centers
+ Matchup nightmare when paired with James at the four
+ Defense has slipped in his 30s, but still executes and knows the angles

Analysis
Frye was acquired at the trade deadline from Orlando last season, and he fit in brilliantly on Cleveland's second unit with James at the 4. Frye spaced the floor in the weakside corner while the Cavs unleashed James as a pick-and-roll screener. Frye has long been an RPM darling to a degree, far outpacing his traditional stats because of the matchup problems he causes as perhaps the league's best shooter at the five. His quick, high release and ability to pick-and-pop from the 3-point line make him nearly unguardable for many traditional centers; they try to maintain traditional help responsibilities. While teams would like to adjust by putting a smaller player on him, Frye shoots right over them on closeouts and can still post up mismatches on occasion.

On defense, the Arizona product still looks good by the numbers, posting a 2.25 defensive RPM despite often playing out of position at power forward in Orlando. He maintains an adequate defensive rebound rate and knows how to play the pick-and-roll, although his rim protection has waned at age 33. While lineups including Frye proved unstoppable in the East playoffs, Frye was largely benched in the Finals when Tyronn Lue judged him unable to keep up with the Warriors.

Kay Felder
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 21

Scouting report
+ Pint-sized scoring point guard with a yo-yo dribble
+ Could be hard-pressed to fill immediate backup PG role on championship contender
+ Strong and gets into guards defensively; height and fouls could be an issue

Analysis
While the Cavaliers clearly valued Felder in paying $2.4 million to purchase the rights to the 54th pick, it seems unlikely they were counting on him as the primary backup point guard. Yet with the departure of Matthew Dellavedova and the subsequent retirement of Mo Williams, it appears Felder will begin the season in the rotation after the 5-foot-9 lefty impressed in summer league.

The Detroit product's game starts with his extremely hard, fast dribble, an advantage since he can react quicker to the defense. He also has the explosion to finish at the rim and the strength to absorb contact, although he does go left nearly every time. Felder also has a solid pick-and-roll feel for a rookie, with a knack for sneaking back to the middle of the floor and getting defenders on his back. He could stand to work on his vision; he more often looks to score in pick-and-roll situations.

On defense, Felder's strength and quickness make him a pesky defender, though he might prove foul-prone. He also will likely be targeted by bigger players in the post and will struggle on closeouts due to his stature. Felder might be an NBA rotation player in a vacuum, but the fit is awkward because his primary skill of shot creation is one the Cavs already have in abundance.

Mike Dunleavy
Position: Forward
Experience: 14 years
Age: 36

Scouting report
+ Lanky small forward trying to fully recover from back surgery
+ Knockdown 3-point shooter was also underrated finisher in his prime
+ On-off numbers solid because he executes in help defense, but overmatched one-on-one

Analysis
Cleveland acquired Dunleavy via a slick bit of cap maneuvering when Chicago dumped him to sign Dwyane Wade. The Cavs then enticed Milwaukee to acquire Dellavedova via sign-and-trade rather than a restricted free-agent offer sheet, resulting in a trade exception just large enough to fit Dunleavy's $4.8 million salary for this season. Though the 36-year-old struggled after missing the first half of 2015-16 with a back injury, the acquisition is low risk because only $1.7 million of his $5.1 million 2017-18 salary is guaranteed, per Basketballinsiders.com.

The Duke product disappointed as a shooter early in his career, but he has matured into a reliable 40 percent bomber from deep in his 30s. In addition to his jump-shooting, Dunleavy has been an underrated driver and finisher. He was one of the first to use what I named the "Dunleavy cut" in his honor, a technique in which he catches the defense napping by essentially starting his drive to the basket before receiving a swing pass. This tactic has caught on and is now a key offensive concept for the coaching staffs in Utah and Boston, among others. Dunleavy has also traditionally been effective using his lanky, 6-9 frame to get out in transition and finish layups off one foot. But it remains to be seen if these capabilities remain at age 36 after the back surgery.

Dunleavy put up similar offensive numbers to 2014-15, but that was not the same on defense. While Dunleavy is always overmatched by big scorers, he did well helping within the team concept until last season. As the Bulls' defensive culture broke down, they allowed an ugly 111.2 points per 100 possessions with Dunleavy on the floor. The hope is that a more limited role will allow Dunleavy to focus on his preferred spot-ups and avoid being overmatched defensively.

Richard Jefferson
Position: Forward
Experience: 15 years
Age: 36

Scouting report
+ Former dunk artist matured into spot-up specialist, but can still finish at rim when he gets there
+ Reliably knocks down open shots, shoots only from 3 or at the rim
+ Still a versatile defensive option who can switch, must stave off decline due to age

Analysis
In the glow immediately following the Cavs' Finals win, the 35-year-old declared he was retiring on top. His 36th birthday two days later, plus a three-year, $7.6 million contract (the last year is nonguaranteed), must have changed his mind. Jefferson appeared done after a miserable 2012-13 in Golden State, but he rebounded to hit 38.2 percent or better on his 3s in each of the past three seasons.

These days, Jefferson hangs out in the corner on offense, taking 49 percent of his 3s from out there and hitting at a 44 percent clip. He did swoop in for some spectacular finishes in the Finals, though, and shot 75 percent at the rim in his limited attempts there during the regular season. The Arizona product plays hard and executes defensively, and his versatility was a key component in a larger role when Love was concussed in the Finals. Despite Jefferson's age, SCHOENE foresees a similar statistical season for him this year.

Jordan McRae
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
Age: 25

Scouting report
+ Established himself as a microwave scorer in the D-League after year in Australia
+ Got buckets in summer league and preseason; efficiency and fit a question
+ Huge wingspan provides defensive potential, but thin frame could limit him

Analysis
A product of the University of Tennessee, McRae followed a circuitous path to what could be NBA relevance this year after the Sixers acquired the 58th pick in a 2014 draft-night trade. Flush with second-rounders, the Sixers convinced him to develop for a year in Australia before signing him for the 2015-16 season. He proved unable to make the worst team in the league, and after failing to stick following two 10-day contracts in Phoenix, the Cavs signed him to a rest-of-season contract with a team option for 2016-17. Prior to signing with Cleveland, he set the D-League record with 61 points in a game.

McRae proceeded to impress in summer league as a volume scorer, averaging 24.3 points during his seven-game run. He followed that with 14.0 points per night in the first six preseason games, though his failure to eclipse 40 percent from the field in either setting is a concern. McRae gets his points largely on pull-up jumpers and might struggle to be efficient if he can't get to the foul line as he did over the summer. His volume scoring might work better on a team with fewer established (and more efficient) creators. On defense, McRae has potential with his 7-foot-1 wingspan, but his thin frame likely prevents him from defending small forwards who can score.

Chris Andersen
Position: Forward
Experience: 14 years
Age: 38

Scouting report
+ Birdman can't fly like he used to
+ Declining athleticism limits his once-excellent finishing, rebounding and shot-blocking

Analysis
Andersen's controversy-marred career perhaps obscured his playmaking ability. Few remember the Heat's 2012-13 title team only hit high gear after adding his explosive finishing, offensive rebounding and shot-blocking. Andersen was easily the best pure center for the Heat during the Big Three era.

While he has impressively defied age for years, perhaps in part because missing large swaths of his career kept his minutes down, Andersen looked as though he might be done last season. He played only 36 minutes all season for the big-needy Heat and was most discussed as salary fodder in their machinations to avoid the luxury tax.

Andersen started a few games after a salary dump trade to Memphis, but he was not particularly effective. His usage rate has sunk to around 10 percent the past two seasons, and his once-impressive offensive rebound rate receded below double digits. Once a shot-blocking force, he managed to block only 2.5 percent of opponents' 2s in Memphis. The Grizzlies were wracked by injuries when Birdman joined the team, but they gave up 111.4 points per 100 possessions with Andersen on the court. The Cavs signed Andersen to a one-year, guaranteed minimum contract, but he shouldn't play a significant rotation role unless players ahead of him are injured or resting.

James Jones
Position: Guard
Experience: 13 years
Age: 36

Scouting report
+ Veteran spot-up threat never ventures inside the arc
+ Backup stretch four when he does play, too slow to guard wings
+ High-character locker room guy

Analysis
Jones was forced into playing major minutes in the 2015 playoffs, but in general, he was signed to help bring Miami Heat culture to a young Cleveland team. In the 463 minutes he did play in 2015-16, Jones provided his usual diet of 3-pointers (39.4 percent), turnover avoidance and not much else. Incredibly, since entering the league in 2003-04, Jones has never taken more than 10 percent of his shots at the rim. Last season, he increased that rate from 1.5 percent in 2014-15 to an astronomical 3.5 percent, and even managed to throw down his first dunk since 2007-08.

The Miami product returns on the one-year, minimum contract that has been a staple of his career, although it is fully guaranteed. He'll function again as a locker room voice and go-to quote for Cleveland beat reporters.

DeAndre Liggins
Position: SG
Experience: 3 years
Age: 28

Scouting report
+ Returning to the NBA after two-season hiatus following domestic violence incident
+ Became a playmaker in the D-league, but turnover-prone
+ Potential as 3-and-D player

Analysis
The Kentucky product played bit roles for Orlando and Oklahoma City after leaving college, but was released by the Thunder after an arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence in September 2013. He later pleaded to a single misdemeanor count of domestic violence as part of a plea bargain. He played one game with the Heat in 2013-14, but has toiled in the D-League ever since. After a solid performance for Cleveland's NBA Summer League entry, he was signed to a one-year minimum contract with a second-year team option and $25,000 guaranteed in the first season.

Known as a defensive specialist out of Kentucky, Liggins has reinvented himself as more of a creator. One would expect he will play a more limited role if he makes the Cavaliers because his D-League turnover rate suggests he would be overextended in that role in the NBA. Liggins does have some 3-and-D potential, though. He is a solid defender of 1s or 2s, and has hit 38 percent of his 445 3-pointers in his D-League career. SCHOENE projects Liggins to hit 3s at a league-average rate while posting high steal and turnover percentages if he makes the team.

John Holland
Position: SG
Experience: 1 year
Age: 27

Scouting report
+ Averaged-sized shooting guard who will take 3s and run floor in transition
+ Reputation as a smart player who could work in league after playing days

Analysis
Holland actually spent last playoffs at the end of the Celtics bench, but was released before camp when it became clear the Celtics had too many guaranteed contracts. He signed with the Cavaliers, who were familiar with his work in the 2015-16 season as a member of the Canton Charge.

The Boston University product played in only three games during the preseason, but, as in the D-League, was effective in transition and spotting up. The shooting guard is rarely asked to create, taking only 29 field goal attempts out of the pick-and-roll in 1,119 minutes for Canton. SCHOENE projects slightly below-average shooting on 3s and average efficiency overall on a low-usage rate if Holland does make the team.