The Cavs have received trade interest from the Warriors and several other teams about the services of Cedi Osman.
The Cavs have apparently received interest in forward Cedi Osman, according to Sam Amico of FortyEightMinutes.com. Osman is currently trending in the right direction with execs around the league with several teams calling the Cavaliers about what it’d cost to trade for Osman.
The Warriors, while not named the front runners in any potential trade, are apparently willing to offer up a young player in exchange for the dynamic forward.
Here’s what Amico had to say;
"More likely for the Cavs are trades centered on Cedi Osman and/or Taurean Prince. Meanwhile, one source said the Golden State Warriors have interest in Osman (as do the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets), and the Warriors may be willing to part with one of their own young players in return."
While Cedi Osman has been inconsistent this year, he’s got tremendous potential. While trading him isn’t out of the realm of possibility, the Cavs would need to get something back in return for him that isn’t a scrub.
Now, no one thinks the Cavs can land James Wiseman in a trade, but the Warriors have some intriguing pieces that the Cavaliers should be interested in should a trade materialize. If the Cavs land one of these pieces, and maybe a second-rounder, it’d be a no-brainer for the Cavaliers to move on from Osman.
3. G Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole isn’t the sexiest of names on this list. He’s a guy who’s only getting about 10 minutes per game, way down from the 22.4 minutes he was getting last year with the Warriors down their biggest players. With their guards mostly healthy from last year, Poole has seen fewer and fewer minutes this year.
Poole went from 8.8 points as a rookie to 6.8 points in his second year as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Despite his decline in production, his efficiency has risen.
He went from shooting splits of 33.3 from the floor, 27.9 from three-point and 79.8% from the free-throw line to 46.8% from the floor, 36.7% from three-point, and 95% from the free-throw line.
He’s not a very big guard but he’s on par with Collin Sexton and basically towers over Darius Garland. Poole’s 6’4, and as a former first-round pick, does have some upside. Whether or not he can turn into a player the Cavs can build around is anyone’s guess. Worst case scenario though, he provides adequate offense off the bench for the second unit for a few years while he plays out his first contract.
If that and a second-round pick is what you get for Osman, that’s not a bad package.
2. F/C Alen Smailagic
Of all the players on the Warriors roster who is “gettable”, Alen Smailagic may be the least gettable. The Warriors have been high on him for a while and they would need to be really impressed with Cedi Osman to part ways with him. He was acquired by the Warriors G-League affiliate the Santa Cruz Warriors in 2018, and then the Warriors traded with the New Orleans Pelicans to get his draft rights after the Pelicans took him in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
It’s safe to say the Warriors are very high on him, as they keep finding ways to bring him on board.
Smailagic is currently playing for Santa Cruz at the moment, and if the Cavs do clear out Javale McGee and Andre Drummond as expected, the Cavs would be in need of a big man. Smailagic is a project, that’s for sure, but there are second-round big men all over the NBA who blossom after being passed over.
Smailagic may not have the name brand or pedigree of an All-Star yet, but with the right team and right coaching staff, he could be something special. It’s impossible to say for sure if the Warriors would give on Smailagic for Osman. Yet, they haven’t been making the best trades as of late, so anything’s possible.
1. Nico Mannion
Nico Mannion is a rookie point guard from Arizona who has incredible quickness, and good handles. He hasn’t played much in the NBA, but he’s been having a strong season for the G-Leauge affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
In nine games for the G-League, Mannion has played in 33 minutes per game, with 19.3 points, nearly seven assists, 3.4 rebounds, and impressive shooting figures of 40.5% from the floor, 37% from three, and 77% from the free-throw line.
His play-making skills, three-point shooting, and versatility make him a great fit with this Cavs team, and with Cleveland still trying to figure out what their roster will look like for the future, Mannion could help make things a bit more clear.
Not only that but he comes from good stock. Nico is the son of former NBA player, Pace Mannion. Having a father who’s played in the NBA will help his son develop. Which shouldn’t be too hard, as Nico has succeeded at all levels of the game.
He was a five-star college recruit, a second-team All Pac-12 player as a freshman, and won Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a sophomore in high school. Truthfully, the Cavs should ship Osman to Golden State today for Mannion and Alen Smailagic.