Four new Cavaliers to debut against Celtics today


The Cleveland Cavaliers have done a major overhaul of their roster and have become younger and faster. They jettisoned six players with an average age of 30.3 years and they acquired four newcomers with an average of 26.5 years of age. The oldest of the traded sextet are Channing Frye at 34 and Dwyane Wade at 36. Also gone are the much-traveled Isaiah Thomas, along with Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert.

The new Cavaliers include 31-year-old veteran George Hill. The other three pick-ups are all 25 years old and include Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr. Hood is a 6'8" wing, while Nance is a 6'9" power forward. Hill is projected to be the only starter among the newcomers in the contest against Boston. The other three players will most likely come off the bench.


Clarkson is a 6'5" PG/SG who was having a good season with the Lakers, averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Hood is averaging a career-best 16.8 PPG. Nance is projected as a backup at the center position, while also playing alongside Tristan Thompson for certain matchups. The starting lineup against the Celtics today will most likely be Cedi Osman, Lebron James, George Hill, J. R. Smith and Tristan Thompson.

We can expect the play of the Cavaliers to be a bit shaky with four new guys in the lineup. James always remains the center of everything Cleveland does, and it will be interesting to see his interaction with his new teammates. With Paul Pierce's jersey raising scheduled after the game, the Celtics will be prepped to take on, and size up, the new Cavaliers. Today's game will only serve as a small-scale preview of what lies ahead in the Eastern Conference.

Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

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