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Cavs: B/R trade has Cleveland upgrading roster with Minnesota trade

By Chad Porto

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 31: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball as Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards him during the third quarter at Target Center on January 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Harrison Barden/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 31: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball as Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards him during the third quarter at Target Center on January 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Harrison Barden/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavs are in an interesting place. They’re built a roster that should be good, but there are big possibilities that this roster will be heavily overhauled come 2021’s offseason. The team has already moved on from JaVale McGee and Andre Drummond, and there could be more moves to come in 2021.

Names like Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Taurean Prince, and the Cavs starting backcourt could all be names that get moved for one reason or another.

Not every trade makes sense right off the bat. This Bleacher Report trade idea by Greg Swartz may not be the best of ideas on paper, but if you plug it into the bigger scheme of the Cavs, their need, and possibilities that arise come this offseason; it makes total sense.

Now, if you’re looking at this trade just based on what the Cavs are today, and assuming that they go into next season with most of the same roster, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. As hyped as some may be about Jarrett Culver, he’s not playing much for a reason. He can’t shoot three’s and is largely inconsistent offensively. He’s not an upgrade over Osman or Prince.

No, the real get here is Ricky Rubio, who wouldn’t just be an upgrade over Matthew Delevadova as the article claims, but would be an upgrade for the Cavs as a starter. Sure, Darius Garland has improved a lot this year, but how much more will he improve? More so, can he and Collin Sexton actually play together.

Conventional wisdom says no. Sexton doesn’t facilitate the offense that well, refuses to improve his perimeter game, and is an absolute non-factor defensively. Garland is a better playmaker but isn’t as efficient around the basket like Sexton is. The other big issue is his defense, which is better than Sexton’s but still bad.

Rubio is a better perimeter player and a better facilitator for the offense than either Garland or Sexton. The only issue is his age; Rubio would be 31 next year.

The only issue is the second-round pick; because there’s no way this deal needs that to get done. Osman and Prince are absolute upgrades over Culver, sixth overall pick or not.

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