NBA Trade Deadline Rumors: Possible Cleveland Cavaliers Moves
There are several ways a team in the NBA can build a roster for the championship.
Some teams try to build around star players in the open hand, while others focus more on building their team through the NBA draft. Then there are the franchises that have done a little bit of both and add the missing piece of a blockbuster trade.
That’s exactly what the Cleveland Cavaliers did this past offseason, as trading All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell seemed like the missing piece for that roster.
Obviously that trade came at a cost, as Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, rookie Ocahi Agbaji and three unprotected first-round picks all left the Cavaliers’ hands, but Cleveland has young, up-and-coming talent that they’ve pulled in, a mix of veteran leaders that they’ve found have in free agency and a superstar in Mitchell to build with for the foreseeable future.
Cleveland is currently 29-20 in the season and as of this year’s close they are within striking distance of the 1-seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers are definitely a real threat in the east, but what will their front office decide as the trade deadline nears?
“Right now, this is an exciting season for the Cavaliers,” the Cavaliers suggest the writer and reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said in a recent episode of The Fast Break Podcast. “They are a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference and there is great excitement about what they can achieve now. Internally, this franchise is excited about the long term because it is poised for sustained, long-term success.”
Building a sustainable, long-term, and successful roster has long been the goal of Koby Altman, the team’s President of Basketball Operations.
They’ve finally got that young core they’ve been looking for and it looks like the success of this franchise will continue for years to come as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are all signed until 2024 -25 season.
With the trade deadline right around the corner, the Cavaliers must decide whether now is the time for them to go all-in to fight for a championship, or let time play and this one Let the team learn how to become a real title threat in the next few seasons.
Cleveland doesn’t have many draft assets to trade now after acquiring Mitchell, leaving Caris LeVert, who has an expiring contract, Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, and Isaac Okoro as possible assets to play around with in trade talks.
There has been debate in the league that LeVert will be available as the Cavaliers look to improve up the wing, but is this roster worth tinkering with if you’re Cleveland, especially given the success you’ve had this year have noticed?
“Caris LeVert is on an expiring contract and can help a team now, they have Cedi Osman and they also have future second-round picks, but what a piece that really gets you when you’re Cleveland,” Fedor explained. “Some of the top names that are being mentioned in trade rumors right now, I think these guys are a little bit outside of Cleveland’s price range and if you look at some of the smaller guys maybe a different move might make sense but I really know no answer at the moment.
“Yes, there is a glaring need for the wing. Yes there is interest in improving that place but I have a feeling they are going to do well with this team they have and see how far this team they have can go.
Keeping their current roster together definitely seems like the smartest move for the Cavaliers, especially as they head into the offseason with options.
Kevin Love is on an expiring contract worth $28.9 million, Caris LeVert is on an expiring contract worth nearly $18.8 million, and Cleveland doesn’t really have to worry about contract renewals with any of their core guys.
A total of $94.6 million will be dedicated to Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen for next season, but the Cavs will have some flexibility in terms of the moves they can make.
They will most likely try to re-sign Love for a smaller deal, and they might even re-sign LeVert to keep his current pay spot on their roster, opening up the possibility of a sign-and-trade or even a deal at the next close of trading.
There’s really no rush for the Cavaliers right now, and while they could well strike a deal with Caris LeVert or Cedi Osman by this year’s trading close, such a move really doesn’t make sense given the success that organization has found where the Cleveland trading market doesn’t many “upgrades” presented.
Koby Altman and this front office have done a fantastic job over the years putting the right pieces together and whether those outside the organization agree with them or not, they know they will be in a championship position for many years to come.
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