The Cleveland Cavaliers may have some trade options but are these the trades the team should make?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have some issues. Who knows what the solution to these issues will actually end up being, but one that has been bandied about is a major trade that would shake up the roster and right all the wrongs. That may not make things better, and it can certainly make things worse. So trades aren’t the cure-all that some fans think they will be.
That said, they can absolutely make things better, assuming the right trade is made. The Cavs need another shooter who can play in the starting lineup. Many, myself included, think this could easily be Cedi Osman but J.B. Bickerstaff has made it profoundly known that he doesn’t support or trust Osman. Despite Osman being involved in most of the Cavs’ most efficient lineups.
Bickerstaff has almost become obsessed with burying Osman in the depth chart, and it doesn’t look like things would get much better for the team if a trade was made because he clearly favors certain guys. Guys who don’t help the team. Guys like Caris LeVert are who should be traded, but if rumors are to be believed, it’s Osman the Cavs are dangling.
So it’s clear that a trade would not fix all the issues, as so much of it has to do with usage and rotations. Yet, that hasn’t stopped some people from suggesting some interesting trades for the Cavs to make and we’re going to review three of them to see if they can actually help the team or not.
The first trade comes from our sister site, King James Gospel. In this three-team deal, they suggest a multi-team trade that sees the Cavs sending Caris LeVert to Miami and Dyland Windler to Detroit. The Heat sending a first-round pick to the Detroit Pistons and Duncan Robinson to the Cavaliers, while the Pistons send former Cavaliers guard Alec Burks back to the squad, and include rising prospect, Saddiq Bey
The Pistons get a first-round pick and a young-ish wing to use in their rebuild, and the Heat gets an average creator with some unique skills that they don’t currently have on their roster. Neither of the other teams gets better from this trade but the Cavs sure do.
I’m not in on Burks, we’ve seen that movie before and he’s not the impact player that some fans like to hype up. Robinson has potential with a different coach but sadly he’d be punished just like Cedi Osman if he starts missing shots. Since that’s all Robinson brings to a team, if he can’ hit his shots then he won’t last long in a rotation in Cleveland.
Bey makes things interesting and he’s also why this trade dies. Bey may be a 23-year-old combo forward with solid skills but he’s an inefficient scorer with severe issues on defense that have not improved since entering the league. He’s not the future All-Star some wish he was. This is a bad trade for everyone involved.
Somehow, the Detroit Pistons arm of FanSided had a better trade for the Cavaliers than Cleveland’s arm. Go figure. In this trade idea from the Detroit Pistons fansite, Pistons Powered, they suggest a simple straight-up trade where Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro head up north in exchange for skilled shooter Bojan Bogdanovic.
Firstly, let’s talk about why this trade makes total sense for the Cavs. Bogdanovic is in his prime and still shooting as well as ever. He’s a marksman from deep and can score from all three levels on a court. He is clearly a must-have for the Cavs. And giving up just LeVert and Okoro to get him? I’d make this trade seven times a day and 30 on Sunday. He may be older but he fits the championship window the Cavs are currently in and the team isn’t giving up so much in the trade that they would hinder their ability to win after he ages out of the league.
The issue is, why would Detroit make this trade? Okoro has shown some improvement this year for sure and he could be a nine or 10-point game guy on the right team with the right scheme. His defense will also make him hard to pass up. But is he enough to make this trade work? I don’t know, I wouldn’t just want Okoro back for Bogdanovic. I know LeVert’s in the deal but he’s really just here for money purposes.
LeVert will likely not want to re-sign with the rebuilding Pistons at 29 years old this off-season, so he’d be a rental at best.
The last trade idea comes in the form of a rumor, this time from Bleacher Report, and a trade idea by yours truly. Apparently, the Cleveland Cavaliers have an interest in John Collins, but to what degree we’re not sure. Now, trading for a big man over a wing is certainly a decision that many won’t agree with, if no wing can be had that the team really wants, then why not Collins?
If you have to give up too much to get a Bojan Bogdanovic, or someone similar, why would you take less at the wing position when you likely won’t upgrade the position beyond what you have? Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman, and Isaac Okoro are no slouches and can start for an NBA Finals team. They can be upgraded sure, but if you can’t get a clear upgrade at wing, don’t settle for less.
The Cavs need help at the low post because Robin Lopez isn’t going to make this team better if he were forced into minutes. The Cavs currently have Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, and Dean Wade. Assuming LeVert gets traded and maybe Okoro, you’d still have the room to play Wade at the three, while allowing Collins to be a big off the bench next to Love.
It isn’t the team’s biggest need, but a backup big is a need. Collins is a double-double guy and could be a dynamic force against most teams’ second unit. Not only that, but he’s quick enough to play the perimeter in Cleveland, so he could move between power and small forward as needed.
It isn’t the ideal trade but if you’re giving up LeVert or LeVert and Okoro, I think you make this trade if you can’t find a three-point shooter who’s better than what you already have on the roster.