J.R. Smith

Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is on pace to return in April from his thumb surgery.

(Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- About the Cleveland Cavaliers' J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert:

1. I hear Smith should be back by April and able to play at least a few games before the playoffs open. The Cavs are pleased with his progress following thumb surgery, but don't want to rush him. He's important because he's a strong, athletic presence on defense -- along with having amazing 3-point range.

2. Smith was off to a slow start this season. He missed most of training camp as he was working out a three-year, $47 million guaranteed contract with an option for a fourth year. He played 21 regular-season games, averaging only 8.6 points and shooting .337 (.361 on 3-pointers).

3. No matter how much a player trains, it's very hard to perform at a peak level without at least a few weeks of training camp. Smith also had some minor injuries (missing four games) before his thumb was fractured on Dec. 20.

4. Assuming Smith can be close to 100 percent for the playoffs, the Cavs suddenly have a much stronger backcourt. That's because Iman Shumpert is playing his best basketball since his arrival with Smith on Jan. 5, 2015 from the Knicks.

5. When the trade was made, Shumpert actually was supposed to start with Smith coming off the bench. But Shumpert was out for several weeks with a shoulder injury at the time. Smith was given the starting job and never let go.

6. Even when Smith was out this season, coach Tyronn Lue kept Shumpert as a substitute. He wanted more talent coming off the bench. But when DeAndre Liggins had problems scoring, Shumpert moved into the starting spot.

7. In 11 starts, Shumpert is averaging 11.5 points, shooting .457 (.492 on 3-pointers) in 29 minutes a game. He also has been a strong defensive presence.

8. Off the bench, Shumpert averaged 24 minutes, but shot only .424 (.370 on 3-pointers) and averaged 7.0 points. So he has been more productive as a starter.

9. My guess is Smith will eventually return to the starting spot when healthy, but Shumpert does offer another option. At the least, Shumpert is gaining even more confidence. That will help the Cavs.

10. Finally, adding Kyle Korver has provided real depth at that spot.

FITTING IN KORVER

The Cavs had some plays for a shooter to run around picks, catch a pass and fire up a shot. But they seldom used them because they weren't suited to anyone on the roster -- until Korver arrived.

Think about the other Cavs shooters. Channing Frye, Smith, Shumpert and even Kyrie Irving are all stand-still shooters from behind the 3-point arc. Korver can do that. But he's even more effective running around picks and taking a shot.

Obviously, Irving can score in a variety of ways. I believe he could add another weapon if he learns to run around picks to get open when he doesn't have the ball.

Former Cavs coach Lenny Wilkens used point guard Mark Price in that fashion at times. Craig Ehlo would bring the ball up the court while Price ran around picks set by Brad Daugherty, Hot Rod Williams or Larry Nance. He'd break free, catch a pass from Ehlo and unleash a 3-pointer.

The Cavs have been working with their big men to set the right kind of picks for Korver, and it's starting to pay off. His movement without the ball is another dimension on offense. It also takes away some of the stagnation.

In 12 games since coming to the Cavs, Korver is averaging 8.8 points in 24 minutes a game, shooting .448 from the field (.428 on 3-pointers). He is just starting to feel comfortable.

THE TRYOUT GAME

1. The Cavs were surprised that the names of players trying out this week became public. Teams never want others to know who they are working out. Most agents also want it quiet. They don't want others to know their client tried out but was not offered a contract.

2. But it's obvious someone -- probably an agent -- leaked the four names the Cavs had in town this week: Lance Stephenson, Kirk Hinrich, Mario Chalmers and Jordan Farmar.

3. Part of the process was to check the health of the players. Chalmers is coming off Achilles surgery from last March. It's a tough injury and Chalmers is just getting fully healthy. Stephenson had groin surgery in early November.

4. Farmar played two games with Sacramento earlier in the season, then was waived. The 30-year-old point guard is anxious to get back into the NBA, and would be open to signing a 10-day contract. He averaged 9.2 points and shot 42 percent in 12 games with Memphis last season. He has been waived by four teams since 2012.

5. Hinrich is 36. He has played 13 years, but probably doesn't have much left. He's more of a poor man's Kyle Korver, a 6-foot-4 shooter.

6. Stephenson is the most talented. He's only 26. Before being injured, the 6-foot-5 Stephenson was averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting .473 from the field for New Orleans.

7. The Cavs can wait until the Feb. 23 trading deadline rather than sign any of these players for the rest of the season. Perhaps a deal would bring them someone more attractive. It is possible Farmar or someone else could sign a 10-day deal before that.

8. The workout allowed the Cavs to check the physical condition of all the players. But they don't have to make a decision right now.

9. Another factor is Kay Felder. The Cavs would like to see a little more of the rookie point guard in the next few weeks. They love his attitude and work ethic. He has embraced the two trips to the D-League, and averaged 30 points over two games. It's doubtful there is a better point guard in the D-League than Felder.

10. As of now, the Cavs will probably wait as they pursue trade options and look at Felder -- unless they add someone on a 10-day contract.

ABOUT THE CAVS

1. Obviously things can change by the trade deadline. But I hear the Cavs have "absolutely no intention" of trading Kevin Love. I also hear they have told Love the same.

2. I mention this because the New York Knicks keep fueling rumors of a Carmelo Anthony for Love deal. They do that because they want other teams to get interested and increase Anthony's declining trade value.

3. In my recent scribbles, I mentioned several reasons why Love/Anthony makes no sense for the Cavs. It starts with the fact Anthony will be 33 on May 29. He has a history of knee problems. He has a lot of miles on his legs in his 14th NBA season.

4. Love is only 28. He will be 31 in the summer of 2020, when his contract ends. He is in his prime. Anthony can still score big numbers but is in a decline.

5. My guess is the Knicks are hoping LeBron James will pressure the Cavs to trade for Anthony. The two players are friends dating back to when they faced each other in high school. James was a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary and Anthony was a senior at Oak Hill Academy. I saw that game, which was played in Trenton, N.J., in front of about 10,000 fans. Oak Hill won, 72-66. James scored 34 points, Anthony had 32.

6. But that doesn't mean James is going to demand a deal for Anthony, or that the Cavs will trade Love.

7. I will be at the Bay Village Library on March 1 at 7 p.m. You can register online or call 440-871-6392.

8. I will be at the Kirtland Library on March 15 at 7 p.m. Call 440-256-7323 to register. I will be at the Cuyahoga Falls Library on March 29 at 7 p.m. Call 330-928-2117. All the library events are free. I speak for about 20 minutes, then take questions. The program lasts about an hour, and then I meet people and sign books afterwards.