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Cavs: 3 dream trades the team can swing this season

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 02: Kevin Love #0 talks with Kevin Porter Jr. #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 02, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 02: Kevin Love #0 talks with Kevin Porter Jr. #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 02, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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While Bradley Beal is the guy everyone is salivating over, Russell Westbrook has proven he can carry a team to the playoffs with next to no one supporting him. His two best scoring options in the 2016-2017 Thunder were Enes Kanter and Victor Oladipo. Oladipo has only had one truly great season in his entire career. In Cleveland, Westbrook would have Kevin Porter Jr., Kevin Love, and Collin Sexton. Not to mention Dylan Windler, who the team is very excited about.

Now you may be asking yourself, why would Houston make this trade? They’re not getting any draft picks back, and they’re only getting one prospect. Well, the trade is the trade due to the fact that Westbrook’s contract and not Westbrook is really the big issue. He’s making $40 million over the next three years, and there’s no real wiggle room for the Rockets to improve with James Harden while carrying that deal. The Cavs aren’t able to get big names at the moment and Westbrook would be a great fit with this team.

Moreover, the Rockets would also get back a prized center, something they haven’t had since trading Clint Capela. So this is a great move to free up their maneuverability.

Here’s a rough expectation of what a starting five would look like with Westbrook.

"Cavs lineup with Russell Westbrook PG Russell Westbrook SG Kevin Porter Jr. SF Cedi Osman PF Kevin Love C Tristan Thompson 6th Collin Sexton (PG/SG) Bench Matthew Dellavedova Bench Larry Nance Jr. (PF/C) Bench Dylan Windler (SG/SF) Bench Jordan Bell (PF/C)"

In this version of the lineup, Sexton again goes to the bench. This reason, however, is due to wanting more pure shooters on the court, while giving the second unit some punch. Porter Jr., Cedi Osman, and Love can all shoot. This allows Westbrook options to play off of. Sexton off the bench helps give the second unit some real scoring, and maybe too much pressure then falls on Windler’s shoulders to produce.

Is this trade good for the Cavs? Yes. Westbrook is the type of playmaker that can get teams to the next level and in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs become a team that could make it to the second or third round. Plus, if they hit on their rookie selection? That’s a big get.

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