LeBron also struggled at point guard as a rookie

2003-04 CLE traded for Jeff McInnis because LeBron at point guard wasn't working. The Cavaliers were 14-28. They went 20-11 in the 31 games McInnis played, and 0-5 in the ones he didn't post-trade. He averaged 11.7 ppg & 7.5 apg, with only 1.9 topg and 38.8% 3PT on 2.6 3pa/g.

[b]With McInnis (20-11 W/L):[/b]
- 104.6 ORtg, 103.6 DRtg, +1 NRtg
- 50.2% TS, 23.1 apg, 13.0 topg

[b]Without McInnis (15-36 W/L):[/b]
- 100.5 ORtg, 105.8 DRtg, -5.3 NRtg
- 49.6% TS, 21.4 apg, 15.0 topg

LeBron averaged 6.3 apg and 3.9 topg without McInnis and 5.1 apg and 2.8 topg with McInnis. Although James flashed his on-ball potential, he wasn't quite ready to play the point. To be fair, he's always been best used as a [i]point-forward[/i]. There are some interesting parallels with Cooper's current situation. People tend to forget the little details as the years pass.

[quote]

The acquisition of point guard Jeff McInnis will have a profound effect on the Cavaliers’ starting lineup.

The Cavaliers sent forward Darius Miles – long rumored to be on the trading block – to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in exchange for McInnis and center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje.

McInnis, 29, is expected to become the Cavaliers’ starting point guard. [b]The move will also enable the Cavaliers to move LeBron James off the ball when he eventually returns from a sprained right ankle.[/b]

To make room for both players on the 12-man roster, the Cavaliers placed forward Jason Kapono on the injured list with right patella tendinitis.
“That’s our hope (to move James to either shooting guard or small forward),” Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson said. [b]“We felt it was important to add a point guard. That would get LeBron off the ball pretty much full-time."[/b]

[b]“He’s done an incredible job. For his team to grow, we need him at his natural position on the wing – instead of bringing up the ball, getting us in the offense and scoring a lot of points. LeBron will do whatever you ask him to do. He’s been asked to do a lot. Specifically, he didn’t come to (Coach Paul Silas) or me (and asked to be moved). In games, when he hasn’t had to do a lot, he’s had better shooting percentages when he’s off the ball.”
Silas wants McInnis and Kevin Ollie to share the point guard spot.[/b][/quote]

[quote]

Paxson said he and his staff looked at the free-agent pool that would be available this summer and came to the conclusion that McInnis stacked up well with those players.

“This is not a short-term fix,” Paxson said. “He’ll help us now and in the future. He was as good a point guard as we were going to get. He’s one of those guys where you look at his stats and you’re surprised how productive he’s been in his career.

“He doesn’t turn the ball over much. He can defend and he really competes. He’s a good mid-range shooter. He’s a pretty good shooter from 15-18 feet. He’s got a good knack for getting into the lane. Jeff doesn’t have Speedy Claxton quickness, but Jeff likes to push the ball. He’s not that speedster. He’s a pretty good athlete.”[/quote]