Despite only being six games out of the 8th seed for the NBA Playoffs, the Cavs seem destined to trade off any and all quality talent.
The Cavs aren’t even that far out of the playoffs, only six games, and it feels like 30. The team isn’t playing well, the ball isn’t being distributed as well as it should be. Point guard Darius Garland, who was labeled as an “elite-level passer” has looked anything but and the other highly touted guard of Collin Sexton has somehow managed to become the team’s least popular player in the eyes of many.
Garland isn’t bad, and most point guards are terrible in their first year. The odds of getting a Chris Paul are rare, but look at Jason Kidd and Steve Nash? Two of the five greatest and both of them started slow. So don’t worry about Garland. Maybe worry about Sexton though, with how well he can cut to the basket, you’d hope he could distribute a bit better.
The team isn’t lacking on talent either, besides the two young starters, there’s also perennial All-Star Kevin Love and suddenly thriving Tristan Thompson. Both men have shown their worth and if they had better bench scoring, this team would be chasing the playoffs in earnest. That’s not the case however and it’s time to admit that. This team is, obviously, not going anywhere. Not that anyone thought they would. Though there were some who were hopeful after the first ten games.
With the mid-year in the books for the Cavs, it’s time to see what the tradable assets look like, and what kind of haul you can expect from them. There are potentially five players who have value to a team in a trade that the Cavs would consider parting ways with. Obviously the likes of Garland, Sexton and Cedi Osman have a lot of value in trades, but they’re not assets the team is looking to get rid of. So we’re just looking at the talent that fans will most likely believe could go.
Kevin Love
Trade Value: B+
Trade Return: Mid-1st or lower, several 2nd picks, one young prospect and one potential roleplayer off the bench.
– Kevin Love is an A-player in my book, but his contract does come with a heavy price tag. He’s as good of a scorer as he’s ever been and finally healthy looks like he’s returned to form. The problem is the team he’s on doesn’t play through him as they should. Love is a perfect compliment to someone like Luka Doncic in Dallas, or even Chris Paul in Oklahoma City. A player who can work the low post with a variety of moves, stretch the court and best of all – pass from the block.
Love’s ability to pass has been an underrated skill of his for years. If a team treated him like Denver does to Nikola Jokic, Love could easily amass six or seven assists a game throughout the year. His shooting allows him to space the court, which opens up lanes for guys to cut to the rim. That makes Love just about the perfect compliment for any team chasing a title in 2020.
His lone knock is his defense. While he’s not a turnstile like many to claim, the fact is he isn’t the most athletic guy and can’t block shots. He’s able to back down an opponent though. He’ll never give up the low post easily, willing to bang with just about anyone. He’s often referred to as the fullback of the NBA and there’s some truth to that. Love is very physical. Just avoid doing what Cleveland did during their playoff runs and have him guard Kevin Durant. No one looks good guarding Durant; which is why LeBron James didn’t do it.
Likeliest landing spots: Boston, Los Angeles (Lakers), Orlando
Tristan Thompson
Trade Value: C+
Trade Return: Lottery Protected 1st, several 2nd picks, an aging vet on a bad deal and one potential prospect
– Tristan Thompson is someone that has really shown his depth of skills in 2020. The versatile big man has been very consistent on both sides of the court, showing the world he’s actually a talented scorer for the first real-time in his career. Thompson is also averaging a double-double for the season for the first time in his career. He has a career-high in points (12.5), a career-high in rebounds (10.5), and a career-high in assists (2.2). Thompson has also shown a growing ability to shoot the three relatively effectively.
On top of his budding offensive talents, Thompson is a good defender. He’s shown the ability to rebound, play rough on the low post and even show the ability to block some shots. He’s not going to come out and be Dikembe Mutombo for a team, but he could be someone who at least improves a starting lineup for a team, or becomes a valued 7th member off the bench in a playoff rotation.
The knocks on Thompson, however, aren’t to be ignored. He can become inconsistent with his effort. In the past, he’s let his off the court stuff affect his play and that is a problem when you’re in a championship race. He’s also someone who can, at times, be streaky with how he plays. He can go from dropping 20 points and 15 rebounds in one game, to 2 points and 7 rebounds in the next. Finding a way to keep him focused, and motivated is key. That way you can guarantee max value for him.
Likeliest landing spots: Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas
Brandon Knight
Trade Value: C
Trade Return: Several 2nd picks, an aging vet on a bad deal and maybe one potential prospect
– Brandon Knight only makes this list due to his very attractive contract. At 28, with a history of injuries, inconsistent playing time and even more inconsistent efficiency in said playing time, Knight won’t make anyone really excited. Sure, he could fill a hole deep in the bench somewhere on a playoff team that’s looking for depth in the most desperate of places, but honestly, the value of Knight isn’t in his talents but that expiring contract. Unless the Cavs intend on keeping Love and letting Knight, John Henson, Matthew Delevadova and Thompson go in free agency so the team can go after another All-Star, then Knight is probably getting traded.
Knight would be a chip in a trade that would see someone get rid of a bad deal. A team like Washington, Charlotte or Dallas could look to swing a major trade to get out from under a bad deal. In this scenario, it’s entirely likely that someone like Delevaodva or Hanson is packaged right along as well. If the deal is bad enough, say John Wall’s for instance, you could probably hold them ransom for a first-round draft pick as well.
On the off chance that the team opts to not suck anymore, a trade could be made to bring in several big contracts with the money the team has in expiring contracts. Would a Boston send Gordan Hayward over for expiring money? No. I can dream though, can’t I?
Likeliest landing spots: Dallas, Charlotte, Washington
John Henson
Trade Value: C
Trade Return: Several 2nd picks, an aging vet on a bad deal and maybe one potential prospect
– John Henson, unlike Knight, offers a place of need for a lot of teams, which is a defensive-minded big man. He’s oft-injured, but a contending team with a need for a defensive playmaker off the bench would be wise to look at Henson. Sure he’s not the player he once was, and he doesn’t offer much in the way of offense, but he still hustles and block shots. Which is really all you need out of a player like him.
He’s not inept on the offensive side of the glass, being able to handle put-back shots. Just don’t rely on him for a 20/10 game or even a 10/10 game. Use him as a spell for when your starter at the five-spot gets into foul trouble or winded, but then otherwise don’t put him in the game. Not on a playoff team. He’s strictly to shore up anyone’s gaps on the bench and is absolutely not a series-making type of player. He could change the course of a game in the playoffs. Just not an entire series.
He’s best served in a place like Denver or Miami, where he’d instantly become the best defensive big off the bench. It’s not like Myers Leonard is blowing anyone away. Don’t expect anything of relevance from a trade with him in it. More than likely you’re swapping salary, getting back a two-three year deal of similar length by a lesser player and maybe two 2nd round picks at best.
Likeliest landing spots: Denver, Miami
Larry Nance Jr.
Trade Value: C-
Trade Return: A 2nd pick, an aging vet on a bad deal
– Larry Nance is a name that may have more value for Cleveland than he does anywhere else. At nearly 28, Nance has yet to develop much of an offensive game to speak of. His mid-to-long range scoring is almost non-existent on most nights, and if it wasn’t for his athleticism in transition and his ability to block shots, Nance would be out of the league by now. The reason why Cavs fans love him so much is because of his father, Larry Nance Sr., who was one of the most beloved players of all time for the franchise.
Nance is a hustle player, with good hands, a smooth stride and a great contract. Topping out at only $12 million, someone like Nance could be the final piece for a contender. He wouldn’t be hard to match salaries for, and on a team like Toronto or Utah would be a great addition for their type of style. The problem with keeping Nance in Cleveland is that the team is desperate for anything they can get to improve their future, while also shedding anything they can so they tank their record.
Nance also eats up time that could be better served going to Dean Wade and Tyler Cook. This Nance that we have is as good as he’ll ever get. Is that good enough to hang on to? Is that good enough to get something worthwhile back? Who knows. Certainly, no one wants to trade the son-of-a-legend, but if the Cavs are committed to doing the Philadelphia version of rebuilding, as opposed to the Oklahoma version, then Nance would have to go. He’d be 32 or 33 by the time the team was competitive again (ideally).
So he has no long term value for the rebuilding squad. Just sentimental.
The reason for Nance’s low grade should be obvious. He’s on a good deal, but it’s a long deal. Long deals can turn sour if the player starts to fall off. There is no such thing as a good long term deal for a bad player. Nance would need to produce and do so right off the bat. Which isn’t a guarantee.
Nance happens to be better than Knight or Henson, but he’s also more expensive than Henson and has a longer deal than Knight. If he goes to a team, and the fit doesn’t work, he’s going to be harder as opposed to the other two – who are on expiring deals. If Nance can’t land in the right spot, then it doesn’t matter how good the deal is, or how athletic he is, or how solid he is on defense. He’d become immoveable without truly developing a better offensive game.
Likeliest landing spots: Utah, Toronto, San Antonio